ESG

Mineworker COVID-19 cases increase in SA

South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa warned yesterday there would be an “inevitable increase” in COVID-19 cases as a gradual easing of the country’s lockdown restrictions began this month.

Staff reporter
 Minerals Council South Africa’s May 11 COVID-19 figures

Minerals Council South Africa’s May 11 COVID-19 figures

Editor's Note: Mining Journal is making some of its most important coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic freely available to readers. For more coverage, please see our COVID-19 hub. To subscribe to Mining Journal, click here

"We can and must expect infections to rise as more people return to work," he said.

The country has moved to level four restrictions, with "extreme precautions" remaining in place to limit community transmission but some businesses have been allowed to resume, including openpit mining to a 100% workforce capacity.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among mineworkers has grown from 10 last week to 16, with zero deaths, according to data compiled by the Minerals Council South Africa yesterday.

This compared with more than 10,000 cases across South Africa, and close to 4.2 million globally.

In a decision described as a win for mineworkers, the Labour Court ordered the country's Chief Inspector of Mines this month to gazette guidelines and require miners to prepare and implement a code of practice to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, after the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union sought binding regulations to protect workers' safety.

The minerals council said last week it looked forward to engaging with the chief inspector and members of organised labour on these issues.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.