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The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources has expressed heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the three mine workers who died following a seismic event at Harmony Gold, Kusasalethu Operations.

The Committee is deeply worried about the sporadic seismic events that continue to claim lives in the mining sector and calls for a thorough investigation of the recent accident.

“There has to be a way to prevent these events, a research study should be conducted on how to detect them,” said Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, Chairperson of the Committee.

Mr Luzipo will visit the mine tomorrow and meet with management in order to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse that took place on Friday.

Although regretting the situation where five workers were trapped underground at the time of the accident, the Committee is, however, relieved to learn that about 3 000 more workers managed to escape.

“We appreciate diligent work by the rescue team who did not only respond swiftly to the accident, but continued to put their own lives at risk in the quest to rescue the workers. We wish them strength to continue the search in order to ensure that all the five trapped workers are accounted for,” said Mr Sahlulele Luzipo.

Issued by Parliamentary Communications Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, Sahlulele Luzipo