Driefontein miner dies in tunnel collapse

Johannesburg, South Africa — MININGREVIEW.COM — 17 November 2010 – Already contending with a strike by 3 000 miners at its South Deep operation, Gold Fields Limited “’ the world’s fourth-largest listed gold producer “’ has suspended operations at its Driefontein No. 1 shaft near Carltonville, after the death of  a miner in a tunnel collapse.

“The impact on production will depend on the length of the shutdown,” Gold Fields spokesman Sven Lunsche said, adding that an investigation was underway.

South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which initially reported on the fatality, also said another worker had been killed at the Buffelsfontein mine owned by Simmer & Jack Mines, but the company disputed that statement.

“There is no fatality at Buffelsfontein,” a spokesman told Reuters, but could not confirm if any miners had been seriously injured