Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma said he planned to focus on enforcing safety measures to curb mining deaths which have hurt output and to review black ownership in the mining industry.

In a speech to the National Union of Mineworkers on Saturday, Zuma also said he would ensure local communities benefited from mining in their areas.

“We need to vigorously support and entrench a culture of zero harm in this industry ... the safety record of our mines has become a central issue that will be placed under the scrutiny of government,” he added. Last week alone, at least nine miners died countrywide. The death toll last year was 168, and a recent safety audit showed compliance at just 66%.

New Mining Minister Susan Shabangu will oversee the first major review of the Mining Charter, a five-year-old deal to create more black ownership. Zuma said few BEE initiatives had succeeded and he urged unions, industry and the public to engage in the review to help address “this simmering unhappiness in many parts of our country”. – Reuters