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| S African miners strike on safety | S African miners strike on safety |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| South African mine workers have begun a one-day strike in protest at poor safety in the country's mines. | South African mine workers have begun a one-day strike in protest at poor safety in the country's mines. |
| About 240,000 workers are taking part in the stoppage - the first countrywide strike by miners over safety issues. | About 240,000 workers are taking part in the stoppage - the first countrywide strike by miners over safety issues. |
| Mineworkers are gathering in central Johannesburg for a protest march expected to draw up to 40,000 people. | Mineworkers are gathering in central Johannesburg for a protest march expected to draw up to 40,000 people. |
| More than 180 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, with another two dying in recent days - slightly fewer than 200 deaths in 2006. | More than 180 workers have been killed this year in the country's mines, with another two dying in recent days - slightly fewer than 200 deaths in 2006. |
| The strike is expected to halt work at global firms such as AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony, hurting output and revenues and - unions hope - pressuring companies to spend more on safety. | The strike is expected to halt work at global firms such as AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields and Harmony, hurting output and revenues and - unions hope - pressuring companies to spend more on safety. |
| The strike is just a prelude of things to come, things are coming to a head Nick Goodwin, analyst Unions also hope the strike will force government to prosecute negligent mine owners. | |
| "Workers are saying enough is enough. Safety is needed now," said Erick Gcilitshana, the health and safety head of the National Union of Mineworkers, which is organising the strike. | "Workers are saying enough is enough. Safety is needed now," said Erick Gcilitshana, the health and safety head of the National Union of Mineworkers, which is organising the strike. |
| "The industry made a lot of empty commitments and the fatality rates are forever rising to the stars...employers need to take a leadership role and invest in safety in the same way they invest in production," he added. | "The industry made a lot of empty commitments and the fatality rates are forever rising to the stars...employers need to take a leadership role and invest in safety in the same way they invest in production," he added. |
| Fatal reputation | Fatal reputation |
| South Africa is Africa's biggest gold exporter and a large producer of platinum, with some of the deepest mines in the world and one of the world's worst reputations for mine safety. | South Africa is Africa's biggest gold exporter and a large producer of platinum, with some of the deepest mines in the world and one of the world's worst reputations for mine safety. |
| In October, more than 3,000 miners were trapped a mile underground at a Harmony Gold mine, some for as long as 40 hours. | In October, more than 3,000 miners were trapped a mile underground at a Harmony Gold mine, some for as long as 40 hours. |
| About 3,000 workers were trapped underground in OctoberNone were seriously injured but Harmony Gold's Patrice Motsepe said at the time: "Our safety records both as a company and a country leave much to be desired." | |
| In recent days, more people have died in mining accidents. | In recent days, more people have died in mining accidents. |
| Anglo Platinum shut a shaft at its biggest mine, Rustenburg, after a worker was killed in an accident on Friday. | Anglo Platinum shut a shaft at its biggest mine, Rustenburg, after a worker was killed in an accident on Friday. |
| Angloplats - majority owned by Anglo Platinum - said on Monday that a worker had been killed at one of its mines on Saturday. | Angloplats - majority owned by Anglo Platinum - said on Monday that a worker had been killed at one of its mines on Saturday. |
| A separate audit into mining may force mining firms to invest in mine safety. | A separate audit into mining may force mining firms to invest in mine safety. |
| "The strike is just a prelude of things to come, things are coming to a head," Nick Goodwin, a resources analyst, told Reuters news agency. | "The strike is just a prelude of things to come, things are coming to a head," Nick Goodwin, a resources analyst, told Reuters news agency. |
| "Any changes to mine design as a result of this audit would affect the costs, and hurt the company's bottom line," he added. | "Any changes to mine design as a result of this audit would affect the costs, and hurt the company's bottom line," he added. |