Deaths prompt South African miners’ safety review, minerals council CEO says

Reuters | October 14, 2026 |

(Image courtesy of Sibanye Stillwater.)

South African miners are reviewing safety protocols as the number of fatalities this year is already above the last two, Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane told Reuters.

53 deaths were recorded as of October 12, Mthenjane said, compared with historic lows of 41 in 2025 and 42 in 2024.

There is concern amongst mining companies and particularly CEOs over the current safety performance, Mthenjane said.

Workers have a right to say no to unsafe work and the sector is looking at the implementation of controls, he said.

Mthenjane said most fatalities were reported in the gold and platinum sectors because they were the biggest employers.

South Africa’s mining output fell 12.7% year on year in August, compared with a revised decrease of 7.0% in July.

(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Alexander Smith)