Namhla Tshisela

Namhla Tshisela

Mining will resume at Gold Fields' South Deep Mine west of Johannesburg tomorrow after the death of nine miners last Thursday.

Gold Fields spokesman Andrew Davidson said normal activity would resume after a memorial service for the nine people today.

The nine mineworkers died after a winding rope, which transports workers and material, broke. They were dropped almost 60metres down a shaft.

Their deaths brought the number of casualties at Gold Fields mines to 14 over the past week.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said the fatalities at Gold Fields pointed to "ignorance and negligence" by mine management.

Davidson said he could not comment on the union's claims but pointed out that most of the accusations against Gold Fields were "unfounded and without foundation".

Chief inspector of mines Thabo Gazi said investigations to determine the cause of the accident would commence soon.