Covid-19: Parliament appeals to mining companies to abide by lockdown regulations
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has called on law enforcement to act decisively against those who contravene lockdown regulations.
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Sahlulele Luzipo, has appealed to mining companies to adhere to the national lockdown regulations.
In a press release by the Parliament of South Africa on 16 April, Luzipo also called on the law enforcement agencies to act decisively on those who contravene the National Disaster Act regulations.
He highlighted that while a complete switch-off of operations could be costly when mining resumes after the lockdown, only a few essential workers should be allowed to work, and that coronavirus preventative measures should be obeyed strictly.
Luzipo mentioned an incident in which a mine reportedly instructed non-essential workers to report for work, risking the lives of workers.
He also highlighted the risk involved for workers travelling from places, including provinces outside the North West, as well as neighbouring countries like Lesotho, despite workers not first being screened and tested and without proper transport arrangements or essential service permits.
He encouraged that where permissions are granted to run some scaled-down essential service operations, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy should put stringent measures in place to be followed by mining companies in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“Screening and testing should be compulsory prior to the resumption of work and workers should be provided with masks and sanitisers, as well as making provision for social distancing,” said Luzipo.
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