Coal mines which are supplying Eskom with coal are continuing to operate as usual during lockdown. The supply of coal to Eskom is the first important thing from all the things that the government can discuss about during lockdown. All coal mines supplying Eskom with coal for the production of electricity are regarded as the Class A mines defined by the Disaster Management Act of South Africa.
All other mines were restricted from operating by government as from 26 March 2020 due to lockdown as they were regarded as risky. Now the mines in general will operate on a 50 percent capacity as more than that can result in overcrowding. Mines are the backbone of the South African economy and the decision for mines to operate again on the 1st May 2020 was based on the fact that the economy was going to collapse if the government could not recall the operating of mines.
There are a lot of mine workers who are complaining that they received half their salaries on the 25th April and the government is aware of the situation as those mines have applied for the government compensation funds which will help them to pay their employees but they are still waiting for reply and payment from government which means should they not receive payment by mid May then those employees might not get a single cent salary by end of May.
The country is the world’s number one producer of chrome ore which is used by a number of countries around the world and a shortage has been reported which means that South Africa should reopen their mines in order to continue business with those countries. Measures regarding the fight against the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus are strengthened for the reopening of those mines.
Mines which were given green light by the government to reopen will have to decide which workers to return to work on the 1st of may as only 50 percent of workers will be allowed to return. The rest will be recalled back at work again when the government announces the next phase of the lockdown.
