The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, on 7 and 8 July 2009, held public hearings in Parliament to investigate the death in early June 2009 of over 86 suspected illegal miners at Harmony Gold Mine in Welkom, Free State. Major stakeholders, including the Department of Mineral Resources, the Chamber of Mines, mine houses, trade unions and civic organisations, participated in the hearings. Arising from the hearings the Committee agreed to undertake oversight visits on 11- 14 August, 2009, to some of the affected mines.