Charles Molele
Mining companies in South Africa can only operate at 50% capacity during the lockdown period, the government said on Thursday.
Speaking at a media briefing by members of the National Command Council, Minister of Minerals and Energy Resources Gwede Mantashe said that the re-opening of mines would also happen in phases.
The South African mining industry, which employs more than 450 000 miners, came to a stop on March 27 following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a 21-day national lockdown.
“There’s full commitment in the industry to contribute to fighting Covid-19,” said Mantashe.
“Mining operations, excluding collieries that supply Eskom, shall be conducted at a reduced capacity of 50% during the period of the lockdown, and thereafter at increasing capacity as determined by the Cabinet member responsible for mineral resources and energy. We must maintain a risk-based approach.”
Mantashe urged mining companies to abide by government regulations.
“I urge all stakeholders in the industries we regulate to respect the Regulations, as well as the directives guiding how we must systematically phase in a ramp-up of production. This will assist us in protecting employees by containing the pandemic, and ensuring this critical sector of the economy is able to operate safely and optimally. Furthermore, employers and labour unions must engage on a regular basis, on matters directly affecting employees,” he said.
Mining companies were only allowed to carry out essential maintenance work during the first 21 days of South Africa’s lockdown. But several of them applied to the Department of Mineral resources to continue with other operations outside of the essential care and maintenance on a limited basis.
Announcing some of the revised regulations, Minister of Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the national lockdown, which has been in place since March 26, would be lifted in stages.
Dlamini-Zuma said mines and refineries would be allowed to ramp up ahead of lockdown phase out with very strict conditions on how miners could interact.
“All mining are considered essential services but must be operated in line with the reduced operation rules already alluded to,” said Dlamini-Zuma.
“Notwithstanding this, conditions apply to the starting and increasing of capacity in a mine, a rigorous screening and testing program must be implemented as employees return to work.”
Dlamini-Zuma added that mining companies should make arrangements to transport their South African employees from their homes to their respective areas of operations in accordance with the law.
“The mining industry must provide quarantine facilities for employees who have tested positive for the COVID-19, and data collected during the screening and testing programme must be submitted to the relevant authority,” she said.
On Thursday, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Sahlulele Luzipo, appealed to mining companies to adhere to the national lockdown regulations.
Luzipho also called on the law enforcement agencies to act decisively on those who contravene the National Disaster Act regulations, especially senior mining bosses.
Luzipo said that only few essential workers should be allowed to work, and that coronavirus preventative measures should be strictly obeyed.
“Screening and testing should be compulsory prior the resumption of work and workers should be provided with masks and sanitisers, as well as making provision for social distancing,” said Luzipo.
“What we saw in the news this week was concerning, that despite being granted permit to run operations at a strictly scaled down workforce that provides essential service in the context of an underground mine, Implats is reported to have instructed non-essential workers to report for work, which was taking a risk with the lives of the workers,” said Luzipo.
Luzipo noted and welcomed an agreement between the National Union of Mineworkers and Harmony Gold to resume operations after the lockdown, thereby encouraging other mining companies to learn a lesson.
Several mines, including DRDGold, announced on Thursday that work had resumed at reduced levels.
Eastern Platinum’s Barplats and Mineral Commodities also confirmed that their respective mines in South Africa, Crocodile River and Tormin, will be resuming operations after being on a national lockdown to halt the spread of COVID-19.
