A worker as been killed at the Harmony Gold Mining operated Tshepong Gold Mine near Welkom in Free State, South Africa, on the morning of Friday 22 November 2013. Harmony have stated that the miner died as a result of a rockfall, and that part of the mine has been closed pending an investigation, but released no further information at this time.
The Tshepong Gold Mine. Harmony Gold.
Tshepong is a deep pit mine with a single shaft reaching over 2 km bellow the surface. The mine is considered to be Harmony's lowest cost mine, and produced 5287 kg of gold in 2012, down from 6468 in 2011, largely due to a stoppage relating to an industrial dispute. The mine has suffered a number of accidents in recent years; in December 2012 a worker was killed in a vehicle accident, in July 2011 one worker was killed and several others injured in a rockfall, and in 2010 another worker was killed in a similar incident. These incidents, combined with other accidents at Harmony operated mines in South Africa, have fueled a dispute between the companies management and the National Union of Mineworkers, which has accused the firm of flouting safety legislation.
Diagram of the Tshepong Mine. Harmony Gold.
See also Illegal miner arrested in Free State, South Africa, One worker killed and three others injured at Marikana Platinum Mine, Rustenburg, South Africa, Worker killed at the Bokoni Platinum Mine in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Union official assassinated at Lonmin's Marikana Platinum Mine and Shooting at Lonmin's Marikana Platinum Mine.
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