As the yearly recorded number of mining injuries and fatalities in South Africa continues to decrease, albeit at a slower pace in 2016 than in previous years, the focus of the industry shifts once again to renewed efforts to bring the number of fatalities to zero. However, as the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), mining companies, trade unions and lobby groups continue to emphasise their collective goal of zero harm, 2017 is already out of the running as the year in which this goal will be achieved, owing to four fatalities occurring before the release of the 2016 figures.
