Fatal incident occurs at Mponeng Mine in South Africa
Harmony Gold Mining Company has confirmed a fatal incident at its Mponeng mine, the deepest gold mine in the world, located near Carletonville, South Africa. The accident occurred on the morning of February 20, 2025, following a seismic event that caused a ground collapse. One worker lost their life in the incident.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Harmony Gold’s CEO, Beyers Nel, expressed condolences and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety.
Challenges
This event is the latest in a series of mining-related fatalities at Harmony Gold operations. Over the past two years, multiple miners have lost their lives in various incidents. Previous accidents include a rigging-related fatality at the Tshepong North mine in 2023 and a deadly fire at Mponeng in 2009, which claimed the lives of dozens of miners.
The investigation into the recent accident is expected to provide further insights into potential safety improvements, as deep-level mining continues to pose significant risks.
Mponeng is an ultra-deep tabular gold mine in South Africa in the Witwatersrand Basin of the Gauteng Province. Previously known as Western Deep Levels No1 Shaft, the mine began operations in 1986. It is one of the most substantial gold mines in the world in terms of production and magnitude, reaching over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) below the surface. At this depth Mponeng takes the title of world’s deepest mine from ground level, with aims to deepen the mine beyond 4km in order to reach more reserves.
