Last week, Mponeng Gold Mine in Carletonville, Gauteng, reported 196 Covid-19 cases. It was forced to temporarily shut its doors and many of its workers have since been placed in quarantine facilities provided by the company
The rising number of people who test positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus in mines has put unions and mining companies on a collision course, with mining companies being accused of withh.
The first case of Covid-19 was identified in Marula Mine in Burgersfort from a worker who comes from the Eastern Cape. Sipunzi warned that the union would take the matter to court if its members were adversely affected. “We will do whatever it takes to save our members from being infected. Nothing stops us from litigating on the matter,” he said.
Sipunzi has warned that they will advise NUM members to boycott work should they find the workplace unsafe for work, and warned against job and salary cuts. “I am scared because I have children and don’t know if I have infected anyone in my house. I am recovering at home, even though I do not have any symptoms. Anything I feel must be in my head,” he said.
Gauteng health spokesperson Kwara Kekana told City Press that the rise in mine infections was a concern because the department was running out of test kits."We’re running into difficulties with various suppliers not being able to meet our demand, therefore the shortage in the test kits makes it difficult to get hold of every miner who has been infected. For example, out of 2 400 people we could only test 500.
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