IFP MEDIA STATEMENT BY:

MR ERIC LUCAS MP
IFP MINERALS AND ENERGY SPOKESPERSON

4 October 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party would like to express our sympathy with the miners who were trapped and those who are still trapped underground in Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine near Carletonville.

It must be an extremely distressing experience for the miners who are still down in the depths of the mine and we hope that no one has been injured and that all miners will be brought to safety unharmed before the end of the day.

Even though it has been reported that Harmony Gold is doing all they can to secure the safe return of the workers, we think it is important that the company clarify reports about negligence on their part.

It has been reported that negligence was to blame for the accident which cut off power to the lift normally used to hoist workers to the surface. There was no servicing of the shaft as frequently as it should have been and no alternative exit.

Although there has been a steady improvement in safety performance at SA mines during the past 10 years, all stakeholders still agree that too many accidents still happen, especially in underground mines.

Safety should always be paramount and if Harmony Gold was negligent they should be called to account. We are calling on the department of minerals and energy to inspect the mine and to take proper action to ensure that safety requirements are followed.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mr Eric Lucas MP: 082 557 2481
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470