Mine Fatalities in South Africa Rise First Time in Decade
- Companies dig deeper in ageing shafts to find more ore
- Safety has improved over years to rank near U.S., Canada
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For the first time in almost a decade, more people are dying in South African mines, the world’s deepest and among the most dangerous.
There were 81 fatalities from January through November, according to data from the Chamber of Mines, an industry lobby group. Harmony Gold Mining Co. reported a death at its Tshepong Mine Thursday, bringing the total to 82. That’s the first increase in nine years, and compares with 73 in 2016, the lowest on record.