Unions sound alarm as South Africa mining deaths rise 50% in 2026

South Africa has recorded 50 mining fatalities in 2026 so far, a rise AMCU says is 50% higher than the 33 deaths recorded in the same period in 2025. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have responded with urgent calls for stronger safety measures, legislative reform and renewed stakeholder engagement.

Latest fatality at Harmony’s Mponeng

The most recent death occurred on 14 September at Harmony’s Mponeng Mine in Carletonville, when a mineworker died after sustaining injuries in a fall that AMCU said was caused by a seismic event measuring 0.7 in magnitude. AMCU said four fatalities have occurred at Mponeng in 2026.

AMCU singled out Harmony, saying the company had recorded 10 fatalities in 2026. AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa criticised the company’s safety performance, saying:

“This is not a statistic. It is a failure of prevention, accountability and leadership. Ten mineworkers have died at Harmony this year, yet the same recurring hazards continue to claim lives. How many more mineworkers must die before Harmony is forced to answer for its safety failures?”

Harmony disputes AMCU’s figure and pledges investigation

Harmony, through Jared Coetzer, head of investor relations, said the company was deeply saddened by the loss of a colleague but refuted AMCU’s count, stating the correct figure was eight. Coetzer said:

“However, this is not about correcting numbers. Behind every loss of life is a family, friends and colleagues whose lives are profoundly impacted. We take every loss of life extremely seriously.”

Coetzer added that the incident was under investigation and that it would be inappropriate to speculate on causes or assign responsibility before facts were established. He said Harmony was committed to strengthening controls, investing in training and working with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and other stakeholders to eliminate loss of life.

NUM raises concerns over falling engagement and female worker fatalities

NUM said it was “profoundly concerned” about deteriorating health and safety standards in the mining and construction sectors and highlighted the increasing number of female workers losing their lives in the workplace. At a late-July meeting, NUM’s National Health and Safety Committee (NAHSCO) said it was worried that major mining houses were allegedly retreating from structured safety engagements by abandoning tripartite health and safety forums.

NAHSCO said the cancellation of planned Tripartite Health and Safety meetings for 2026 showed a disturbing lack of commitment to genuine stakeholder engagement, and added:

“Employers who distance themselves from these structures actively weaken collective efforts to save lives.”

Dispute over safety approaches at Impala

NUM criticised a recent Safety Day held by Impala, saying the union was excluded despite representing workers at the operations and arguing that safety required leadership, maintained equipment, supervision and worker participation rather than public events.

Implats responded that it takes safety extremely seriously and described a targeted intervention at Impala Rustenburg: the group said it had suspended mining operations at Impala Rustenburg from 24 to 28 July 2026 to conduct a comprehensive safety reset. An Implats spokesperson told IOL the reset included workplace inspections, audits, make-safe activities, re-verification of workplace conditions, revalidation of critical controls and targeted training aimed at preventing future safety incidents.

NUM also noted a recent loss of organisational rights at Impala Rustenburg to AMCU following consolidation of Impala Bafokeng into Impala Rustenburg.

Calls for accountability and legislative reform

AMCU reiterated demands for urgent legislative reform, stronger enforcement and consequences for repeat safety failures. AMCU’s president said:

“Fifty fatalities nationally are enough to demand accountability. We will continue campaigning for amendments to the Mine Health and Safety Act to ensure that those responsible for unsafe mining operations cannot hide behind corporate structures while mineworkers pay with their lives.”

Harmony also emphasised its aim of achieving a record of zero harm and noted progress on reducing injuries, citing its lowest-ever LTIFR figure, while acknowledging that progress could not diminish the impact of each loss of life.