According to a press release issued by Russell and Associates on Thursday 6 February, one employee remains missing after a Doornkop mine fire on Tuesday 4 February.
Chief executive officer Graham Briggs presented an update on the rescue operations.
“Finding the missing employee remains the company’s priority,” he was quoted as saying.
The company made contact with the families of all the men who had died and have promised to provide counselling and assistance to the families in days to come.
Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu met with Davide Msiza (Chief inspector of mines), Mike Teke (President of the Chamber of Mines), Piet Mathosa (Deputy President of NUM), Patrice Motsepe (Chairman of Harmony) and Graham Briggs (CEO of Harmony) on Thursday at the Doornkop mine.
Together, the officials conveyed their condolences to the families of the deceased and mine management provided a brief to the Minister about the events of the past two days at Doornkop.
Key during the discussion was the investigation that will be conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with Harmony management and the NUM in coming days.
“The investigation will uncover the events that led to the tragedy at Doornkop and speculation before the investigation concludes would not serve any purpose,” it was concluded at the press conference.
The Minister had concluded that the outcome of the investigation would contain a lesson for all.
