Union talks to lawyers about 3,200 stuck miners

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20071012035903678C165572

October 12 2007 at 10:41AM

By Wendy Jasson da Costa

Harmony Gold could face a massive civil claim from the country's biggest mining union after last week's disaster at its Elandsrand mine in which 3,200 workers were stuck underground, some for close to 30 hours.

National Union of Mineworkers Secretary-General Frans Baleni said on Thursday the union was consulting lawyers and taking statements from its members to determine if such a claim should go ahead.

Baleni also expressed concern about a cabinet decision that would see the mining industry co-opted to work with the government on its audit of safety in the mines, as ordered by President Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki has instructed Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to conduct an audit of all mines to determine whether they meet health and safety standards as prescribed by law.

Sonjica has, however, expressed concern that there is insufficient capacity within the government to do so.


FULL story at link.