JSE-listed platinum producer, Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), on Friday said one of JIC’s contractor employees had died on Thursday at its North Shaft in Rustenburg, North West Province. Amelio Paquete was fatally injured after he was trapped during a fall of ground in a stope panel yesterday.

The platinum miner said all normal underground operations have been suspended at North Shaft pending a full investigation into the incident, which already commenced in conjunction with the Department of Mineral Resources.

“RBPlat remains committed to keeping its workforce safe from any harm,” it said. “The board of directors, management as well as colleagues of Mr Paquete extend their sincere condolences to his family and friends.”

A rising occurrence 

This is the first reported death this year at the company’s operations. However, it is the third reported fatality since June last year.

Towards the tail end of 2014, a contract employee was killed at the company’s flagship Bafokeng Barasimone Platinum Mine in South Africa’s North West province. This was a second fatality at RBPlat operations in the second half of last year.

RBPlat identified the dead miner as Xadreque Chihungo, a Shaft Sinkers contractor employee at its Styldrift I Project. Chihungo was employed as a Stage Hand and got fatally injured in a shaft related incident that occurred on the 4th of October.