Provisional data shows 41 miners died on the job in South Africa last year, marking the lowest annual toll on record. This figure edges below the 2024 low of 42 and highlights progress toward zero harm in the industry. The Minerals Council SA released the figures at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town.
South Africa's mining sector achieved a significant milestone in 2025, with provisional figures indicating just 41 fatalities among workers, the lowest annual number ever recorded. This surpasses the previous record of 42 deaths set in 2024 and signals ongoing improvements in safety standards within the country's deep and hazardous mines.
The data was presented by the Minerals Council SA during the launch of its annual 'Facts & Figures' booklet on Monday, coinciding with the start of the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town. A notable highlight was a fatality-free August 2025, though deaths occurred in every other month of the year. Despite the overall decline, concerns persist over a 25% rise in fatalities from falls of ground, increasing to 15 incidents from 12 the year prior.
Several factors contribute to this positive trend, including advancements in technology, stricter regulations, active union involvement, mechanization adapted to South Africa's challenging geology, heightened investor focus on safety, and leadership from industry CEOs. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues have also gained prominence in corporate strategies.
Historically, the toll was far grimmer: in the 1980s, annual deaths peaked at around 800, reflecting the exploitation of Black migrant laborers under apartheid. By 2013, the figure stood at 93, and today's numbers represent less than half that, even as employment in the sector slightly increased compared to that year. Additionally, serious injuries dropped 12% to 1,693 in 2025.
Further insights into health and safety will be discussed at a dedicated briefing on Tuesday.
