“An even bigger fight underground: The battle against Covid-19 in SA's mines” 21 May 2020

In the belly of the earth in South Africa, thousands of mine workers toil. Stretching up to four kilometres beneath the surface, these are some of the deepest mines in the world. And here, the fight against the coronavirus – already an uneasy task – takes on a different meaning. Barely a month after a limited return to production, infections have started rolling in, sparking anxiety among executives and unions alike.

"Covid-19 is potentially a manageable challenge, but it is more challenging in an environment such as mining," said David Rees, Emeritus Professor Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of the Witwatersrand. Last week, Impala Platinum revealed that a "cluster" of 19 cases of Covid-19 had been detected at its Marula mine in Limpopo. The infections were detected during screening and protocols required by government.

…Moreover, a cage that takes workers to their underground workstations can take between 100-150 people, who will spend hours toiling in confined spaces. Baleni suggested that companies which are already operating with 50% personnel may need to reschedule their shifts to allow for adequate physical distancing in buses that transport workers to mines to cages that go underground. "I foresee a human resources nightmare for companies, but companies have to adhere to these regulations in order to protect lives." Concerned about the rising number of infections among mine workers at site in Limpopo, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for the shutdown of all mines in the province.