Impala Platinum (Implats) has tragically confirmed the death of another employee following a safety incident at its Rustenburg Shaft 11 operation on November 27. This latest fatality brings the death toll to 13.
The initial incident occurred when a personnel conveyance system, also known as a lift or elevator, at Shaft 11 descended rapidly and unexpectedly, resulting in a sudden stop. The lift, carrying 86 employees, halted at 20 level, about 180 meters below the 17 level near the bottom of Shaft 11. The accident occurred when the counterweight, designed to balance the conveyance system, reached the top of the winding infrastructure on the surface and was caught in jack catches.
This sudden deceleration severely impacted the employees standing upright in the three levels of the lift at the time. Eleven employees were killed and 75 injured in the incident.
Since then, another employee passed away on November 29. As of December 4, 23 employees had been discharged from the hospital, while 50 remain hospitalized, eight in critical care.
In response to this tragedy, Implats, in collaboration with the families of the affected employees, has designated December 6 as a day of remembrance. The company plans to hold a memorial service at Impala Rustenburg to honor the memories of the deceased, injured, and affected colleagues. Implats will release the names of the deceased in line with the families’ wishes during the memorial service.
This devastating incident has deeply affected the Impala Platinum community, prompting a solemn reflection on safety measures and the well-being of mine workers.
