The safety of mine workers has long been a defining issue in South Africa’s mining history. On 27 November 1996, tragedy struck the Rovic Diamond Mine in the Free State when a mudslide occurred 1,000 metres underground, claiming 20 lives. Another two workers were severely injured, and 54 were rescued. The bodies of 16 men were never recovered, buried beneath thousands of tonnes of mud.

Just a few years later, on 29 July 1999, a fatal explosion at Mponeng Mine, formerly the Western Deep Levels No. 1 Shaft, took 19 lives 2.7 kilometres below the earth’s surface. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to bring 20 uninjured workers to safety and recover the bodies of the deceased.

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And who can forget the 1986 Kinross disaster, where 177 miners perished and 235 were injured, or the Coalbrook tragedy that claimed 435 lives? These incidents remain painful reminders of the risks miners have faced for generations.

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Fast forward to 2025, and the industry continues its pursuit of Zero Harm. Despite remarkable progress in improving safety standards, preventable fatalities persist. The question remains: are mining companies doing enough to protect their workers?

Some examples show that Zero Harm is achievable. De Beers’ Venetia Mine recently marked a milestone of 13 million fatality-free shifts. This is a testament to what’s possible with strong leadership and a safety-first culture. Industry initiatives like Khumbul’ekhaya, led by the Minerals Council’s Zero Harm Forum, continue to push for a transformative shift in health and safety performance across the sector.

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Dr. Sizwe Phakathi, who has done extensive work on mine safety and written a book titled Production, Safety and Teamwork in a Deep-Level Mining Workplace – Perspectives from the Rock-Face, captures this challenge well. He says “I believe that the voice from the frontline is missing in discussions about organisational safety, production and people management. We can talk about zero harm every day, but if the voice of the worker at the rock-face is not heard, our discussions remain futile.”

Until mining companies truly prioritise safety above all else, placing the preservation of life at the centre of every decision, the goal of Zero Harm will remain elusive.