Sihlalo, ngokuchitshiyelwa koMthetho ophathelene nezempilo nezokuphepha ezimayini kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi, ezindaweni eziningi zemisebenzi ezimayini sibhekene nezingozi eziningi. Izingozi ezifana nokuwa kwamatshe, ezempilo ezingezinhle, uthuli, imimoya emibi kanjalo nokukhubazeka nje ngokuphefumula kanye nomoya ongahlanzekile.
Abasebenzi basezimayini kulezi zinsuku babhekene nalobu bunzima, ngakho-ke bahlala njalo belimala, befa abanye kanjalo bekhubazeke. Ezikhathini ezedlule lapha eNingizimu Afrika, izimayini eziningi bezibhekane nalezi zingozi. Lezi zingozi ezingezinhle zenze kwaphoqa lo Mnyango nohulumeni ukuthi kushicilelwe lo Mthetho, ukwazi ukubhekana nalesi simo futhi uzame ukuvimba lesi simo.
Lo Mthethosivivinywa ophathelene nezimayini kwezempilo nezokuphepha wenza isiqiniseko sokuthi kube khona izimpilo eziphatheke kahle emigodini futhi nabasebenzi basemgodini baphephile. Ukulandela imithetho yonke yomhlaba, leli lizwe lethu iNingizimu Afrika eliyingxenye yawo, kubalulekile ukuthi lo Mthethosivivinywa oshicilelwe uhambisane nezinguquko nezinto ezenzeka emhlabeni jikelele.
Lokhu kuchitshiyelwa kwalo Mthetho sivivinywa kuqiniseka okwashiwo yinhlangano yethu yabantu, uKhongolose, ukuthi kufanele kube khona ukuphepha ezindaweni zokusebenza ukuze kusizwe imiphefumulo eminingi. Uma sibuka isigaba seshumi nanye kuMthethosisekelo waseNingizimu Afrika, sithi wonke umuntu unelungelo lokuphila.
Ziningi izinguquko ezihlongozwayo kulo Mthethosivinywa. Isigaba seshumi isona esenza ukuthi umqashi abenamabhuku okuqeqesha abasebenzi mayelana nezempilo kanye futhi nezokuphepha. Isigaba seshumi nanye okunesigatshana sesihlanu, sithi umqashi kufanele aphenye ngaso sonke isigameko esenzeka emayini uma kunengozi.
Isigaba seshumi nantathu sisho ukuthi akube khona odokotela abangochwepheshe ababizwa ngokuthi ama-occupational medical practitioner, abazosebenza futhi bahlole izimayini kanye futhi neziguli uma kwenzeke lezi zinkinga.
Isigaba samashumi amane nesikhombisa senza kusungulwe abazohlola ababizwa ngama-inspectors ngabahloli, abazobuka ukuthi zonke izinto zihamba kahle yini. Siyikomidi kanye noKhongolose futhi siyinhlangano yabantu sicela yonke le Ndlu siyikhuthaze ukuba ikwesekele ukuchitshiyelwa kwalo Mthethosivinywa. Ngiyabonga Sihlalo. [Ihlombe.] (Translation of isiZulu speech follows.)
[Mr D D GAMEDE: Chairperson, in amending the Mine Health and Safety Act, we must remember that we are faced with many accidents happening in the mining sector. There are incidents such as falling rocks, poor health conditions, dust and polluted air, as well as casualties caused by respiratory infections and polluted air. Mineworkers these days are faced with these difficult situations and as a result they are always sustaining injuries or dying, and some of them become disabled. And this was the case even in the previous dispensation here in South Africa. These gruesome accidents have forced the department concerned and government to introduce this Bill in order to face this situation head-on and try to stop further casualties.
This Bill ensures good health and fair working conditions in mines, and safety for mineworkers. In order to conform to international standards, it is important that our country, South Africa, which is part of the world, complies with the changes and things that happen internationally.
The amendment of the Act is further testimony to what was said by the people's movement, the ANC, namely that there must be safety in the workplace so that many lives can be saved. If we look at section 11 of the South African Constitution, it says that every person has the right to life.
There are many amendments that are proposed in this Bill. Section 10 compels the employer to keep records of all the training of the employees in health and safety issues. Section 11(5) states that the employer must investigate every action that takes place in the mining workplace when there is an accident.
Section 13 states that there must be occupational medical practitioners who will work and monitor the mines as well as victims when these problems occur.
Section 47 provides for the appointment of inspectors who will check if everything is still well. On behalf of the committee and the people's movement, the ANC, we ask and encourage this House at large to support the adoption of this Bill. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]]
Debate concluded. Bill, subject to proposed amendments, agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.