Gold Fields has shut down all operations at its South Deep, Kloof, and Driefontein mines in order to conduct an inspection of the ropes on mine hoists, spokesperson Andrew Davidson said on Friday.
"Technical teams are inspecting ropes at all our mines, including Beatrice in the Free State to ensure safety," he said.
This follows the death of nine workers, who plunged 58 metres down a shaft when a rope on their conveyance snapped at the Gold Fields South Deep mine near Randfontein on Thursday.
Davidson said the cause of the accident would be investigated.
"No stone will be left unturned", he said.
Eight of the dead workers were contract workers and one, a woman, was employed by Gold Fields as an onsetter.
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Mine officials had been dispatched to inform their next of kin about their deaths, he said.
He was unable to say whether they were all South Africans or were from neighbouring countries.
Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica was due to visit South Deep mine on Friday at 2pm.
She was expected to receive a report from the mine inspectors on their preliminary finding on their investigation into the accident, department spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said.
Two inspectors were sent to South Deep after the accident to conduct an investigation on Thursday.
National Union of Mineworkers (Num) general secretary, Frans Baleni, said the union was considering that workers take a day off for mourning every time a miner dies in an accident.
"Every life lost must be mourned," he said.
The union believes that this measure would make mining houses ensure greater safety as production would be lost when workers mourned, he said. - Sapa
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