A mineworker has died following an accident at Harmony Gold's Tshepong Mine in the Free State, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Tuesday.
The accident occurred late on Monday when the worker was crushed by a locomotive, the NUM said in a statement.
“The NUM condemns Harmony on its ever-increasing fatalities which have seen the company become the number one killer in the mining industry to date.”
Harmony spokeswoman Hendrika Basterfield confirmed the death but could not confirm that the worker had been hit by a locomotive.
“The investigation into the cause is still on-going.”
NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said mining deaths remained worringly high.
“If the industry is serious about the target for zero fatalities, then over eighty deaths for nine months is a whole lot.”
The NUM sent its condolences to the family of the miner. - Sapa