Mr. T Ngwenya from the Department of Mineral Resources made a presentation on the Department's perspective on the possible causes of the incident. He mentioned that there was a reduction in mine fatalities, from 66 in 2007 to 48 in 2008. The Department suspects, though, that some of the big mining companies are resorting to cost-cutting measures on mine health and safety standards to try and contain the current economic situation. Meetings were held with mining houses on this. Seismicity used to be a problem confined mostly to the gold producing industry, but it now includes platinum mining as well. Silicosis and noise induced hearing loss are some of the major illnesses experienced by mineworkers. Most of the fatalities, in the mines, are caused by Fall Of Ground (FOG), transportation and mining and machinery. It is believed that up to 95% of all mine incidents are preventable, including the recent one at Impala where 9 mineworkers lost their lives.