Operations at Harmony Gold’s Doornkop Mine, where nine mine workers were killed in a fire and a rock fall last month, started on Monday this week, the JSE-listed gold miner said on Tuesday.

Work at the mine came to halt after underground fire broke out following a seismic event there, which led to the death of the nine workers. Eight other workers were rescued.

Operations resumed on Monday after South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) last Friday lifted the work stoppage it imposed at the mines.

An intensive probe into events leading to the deaths has started and will take about four weeks.

Harmony has appointed an external audit firm to inspect and give a detailed report on safety at all of the firm’s South African mines.

Graham Briggs, Harmony CEO, said he is expecting to get more information from these processes.

“These processes will minimise risk and operate safe mines,” Briggs said.