The health and safety of workers in the mining industry should continue to form an important part of the sustainability of the mining industry. The industry has for decades been the backbone of our economy and a major provider of employment in South Africa. Regrettably, the sector has also seen a significant loss of life, injuries and ill health of mineworkers.
You will recall that in the period before 1994, the occupational health and safety of mineworkers was sadly neglected. For instance, 706 workers regrettably lost their lives during 1990 as a result of accidents in the mines. However, there has been a significant reduction since 1994. The 2012 figures indicate that mine fatalities continue to improve, with 112 reported.
One of my greatest concerns has always been that mineworkers historically lost their lives as a result of the same causes, mainly rockfall accidents - and that is true. I just couldn't understand ...
... xa kusithiwa kukho ukuwa komhlaba ngaphantsi emgodini. [... when people talked about the rockfall phenomenon that happens underground in the mines.]
I don't want to repeat it. Let me just end there. Hence, it is encouraging to note that there has been a 35% reduction in rockfall fatalities between 2011 and 2012.
Uyazi ingathi ndingavusa utata wam owayesebenza emgodini endixelela ngayo yonke le nto ukuze ndimxelele ukuba hayi ayisenzeki yonke loo nto kule mihla. [You know, sometimes I wish I could wake my father up in his grave - he worked in the mines and he used to tell me about these things - and tell him that none of that is happening nowadays.]
Also, the coal sector, for the first time ever, did not have a rockfall fatality in more than 12 months. There has also been a significant reduction in the frequency of these accidents in the gold and platinum sectors.
The decline in fatalities over the past years is extremely encouraging and a step in the right direction. Hence, I greatly compliment the Department of Mineral Resources on implementing the necessary measures to ensure that there is a sustainable improvement in health and safety in the industry.
Hon members, whilst we recognise the improvement, we still experience loss of life, injuries and occupational diseases. So, we urge the mining sector to go back to the drawing board and constantly focus on both health and safety to ensure that there is zero harm to workers. In taking all these steps, the industry needs to have more platforms to share good experiences and develop programmes for the benefit of all workers.
There are more deaths in the industry as a result of occupational diseases. Hence, the improvement measures should also include general health issues, such as noise-induced hearing and silicosis diseases, which further expose miners to tuberculosis, a condition disposed to HIV and Aids.
There has been a welcome increase in participation by women in the mining sector, since the promulgation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act 28 of 2002. However, it has been noted with great concern during our mine oversight visits that some women are employed in occupations without recognising that women are physically and physiologically different from their male colleagues. The matter must be addressed to ensure that there is fair representation and participation of women across all levels in the mining sector.
Also, I'm deeply disturbed about the number of reported incidents of women experiencing sexual harassment and inhumane treatment by fellow workers in their underground workplaces. I would like to appeal to all the stakeholders to ensure that interventions are implemented to prevent the intimidation of women miners. More attention should also be given to the health and safety of women in the mining sector.
Accordingly, the mining sector should continue to take appropriate measures to ensure that women have safe and dignified working environments. The personal protective equipment, available for use in the mines does not fit women workers as most personal protective equipment is designed for the male body structure. In this regard, we welcome the research conducted through the Mine Health and Safety Council and expect that the implementation of the recommendations should assist the sector to select and provide appropriate and suitable personal protective equipment for women in mining.
Ndifuna ukubuyela kulaa ndaba yam bendiyithetha, hayi le yabantu abangxolayo, le yabantu abaphilileyo apha entloko. Ndiyalibulela isebe ngendlela elithe laphucuka ngayo. Ukuqala kwethu ukungena enyanisweni abantu bebesifa bebulawa yile tafile sithetha ngayo.
Phambi kokuba ndibulele uMphathiswa kunye nomlawuli jikelele, ndifuna ukubulela unyana wam osebenza kwezempilo nokhuseleko emigodini. Unyana wam ndiza kumbiza ngegama. Andikazi kumbiza ngoku. Besixabana kakhulu, sinyusana sisehlisana ngale nto yeli litye. Angeke kaloku ukususela ngowe- 1913 okanye nini kuwe ilitye kanti lisawa nanamhlanje. Ndingamjongi xa sixabana, ndijonge phantsi. Kodwa xa ndiphakamissa amehlo, ndiza kufika encumile.[Kwahlekwa.] Ndiyambulela bethuna uMnu Msiza ngokundinyamezela kuyo yonke loo nto ebendiba yiyo, ndingazenzi, nam ndiqhutywa yinto ebindiqhuba. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[I want to turn back to the matter I was addressing, not the one about people making noise, but the one about people who are mentally sound. I thank the department for the way it has improved. When we started out, really, people died from the rockfalls we are talking about.
Before I thank the Minister and the director-general, I want to thank my son, who works in health and safety in the mines. I am going to name him, but not now, later. We used to quarrel over the rock fall issue. In my opinion, you can't have rock falls from 1913 or thereabouts till today. At the beginning of our quarrel I would avert my eyes and look on the ground instead. But when I looked up, I would find him looking at me, smiling. [Laughter.] Indeed, I thank Mr Msiza for putting up with me in the state I found myself from time to time, which was beyond my control.]
the Temporary chairperson (Prof L B G Ndabandaba): Hon member, you have two minutes left.