Mantashe warns mine owners as 2026 mining deaths rise after historic lows

Mining deaths in South Africa have risen in 2026, prompting a stern warning from Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe that the industry cannot pursue profits at the cost of workers’ lives. According to The Citizen, the rise comes after the sector recorded historic low fatalities in the two previous years.

Numbers and sector breakdown

According to The Citizen, South Africa’s mining industry recorded 42 deaths in 2024 and 41 deaths in 2025. The Citizen reports that 49 deaths have been recorded so far in 2026, a figure the minister described as a worrying reversal.

According to The Citizen, the sector breakdown in 2024 was: platinum 18 fatalities, gold 12, coal 6, chrome 3, diamonds 2 and other mines 1. The Citizen says the 2025 breakdown was: gold 21 fatalities, platinum 11, chrome 3 and coal 2. For 2026 so far, The Citizen reports that platinum recorded 18 deaths, gold 17 and diamonds 5, which together account for more than 70% of all fatalities this year.

Minister’s warning and quotes

Speaking at the Mine Health and Safety Tripartite Summit on 17 September 2026, the minister emphasised the human cost behind the figures.

“these are not merely numbers.”

According to The Citizen, Mantashe said:

“These are lives lost in the line of duty. These were breadwinners who left behind families to fend for themselves.”

The Citizen reports Mantashe questioned whether rising commodity prices were encouraging unsafe practices, asking:

“With the prices of gold and platinum doing well, could it be that mine owners are chasing profits at the expense of health and safety?”

He also criticised the growth of contract labour, linking it to higher fatality rates. According to The Citizen, Mantashe said:

“Contract work is a manifestation of exploitation and unemployment. We cannot allow workers to be exploited perpetually simply because they are employed as contract workers.”

Responsibility after disasters and commuting deaths

According to The Citizen, Mantashe accused some mine owners of seeking to evade responsibility after disasters by filing for liquidation, citing the Lily Mine and the Ekapa tragedy as examples. The Citizen reports that in the Ekapa case, government insisted the mine retrieve the bodies and that this was done successfully.

The Citizen also says the minister raised concern about mineworkers dying while commuting to and from work, noting these deaths are not recorded as mine fatalities but remain a serious issue.

Calls for urgent action

According to The Citizen, Mantashe called for urgent action on commuting fatalities, non‑communicable diseases and mental health challenges. He also stressed that under the Mine Health and Safety Act, workers have a legal right to refuse dangerous work.

At the summit, the minister urged industry actors to recommit to strengthening health and safety at mines, with clear actions, responsibilities and timelines, according to The Citizen.