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South Africa's mining market reports most affordable variety of deaths last year

South Africa's mining market reported 42 deaths last year, the lowest number to date and a 24% improvement on the previous year, official stats showed on Thursday.

The stats did not include deaths from prohibited mining.

Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe repeated the government's. position that unlawful mining is a criminal activity and not part. of his department's remit.

Recently the bodies of 78 miners were pulled from an. unlawful gold mine after a heavily-criticised authorities operation. lasting numerous months that attempted to require them to the surface.

Of the deaths caught in last year's official stats,. 11 were in the gold sector, 19 in platinum, 6 in coal and 6. in mines extracting other commodities.

Mantashe informed a press conference in the capital Pretoria that. there had been no disaster-type accidents in regulated mines. last year, meaning occasions in which 5 or more mine workers had. died. There was also a 16% improvement in occupational injuries.

Before 2024 the most affordable number of deaths reported by the. market was in 2022, when 49 were taped. The following year. deaths increased to 55.

As we launch these data, we are conscious of the. intensity of prohibited mining that has engulfed the South African. mining industry, Mantashe told press reporters.

Those that are involved in unlawful mining, both the. syndicates and the active unlawful miners, have no regard for the. health and wellness of others, nor are they worried about the. laws that regulate the industry, he added.

(source: Reuters)