- Impala Platinum has proactively suspended mining operations at its Impala Rustenburg complex.
- The decision to halt operations will result in eight days of lost production.
- This month there have been two fatalities at the Rustenburg operations, both involving underground locomotive incidents.
- For more financial news, go to News24 Business.
After two people died this month, Impala Platinum has proactively suspended mining operations at its Impala Rustenburg complex from 24 until 28 July 2026.
During the shutdown, Implats is reviewing its safety measures, and retraining all locomotive and rail equipment operators.
In a market announcement on Monday, Implats said the move came in response to an increase in safety incidents at its Rustenburg mining complex which employs over 50 000 people.
Two people have died at the Rustenburg complex since the start of the month. Both deaths were related to underground locomotive incidents.
In November 2023, 13 workers died and 70 were injured in an underground conveyance cage accident at 11 Shaft at Implats’ Rustenburg mine.
The temporary suspension of operations will result in approximately eight days of lost output from Rustenburg during the current financial year which ends on 30 June 2027, the group said. The tonnage and ounce production impact will be assessed following the suspension.
The pause in operations will provide an opportunity to engage employees, strengthen operational discipline and reinforce critical safety controls, Implats said.
It is undertaking comprehensive workplace inspections and audits, as well as targeted training of locomotive operators and employees involved in rail-bound equipment operations.
“When our people return to work, they will do so with the assurance that all rail-bound equipment has been thoroughly re-assessed and re-verified. No production target or operational objective is more important than the wellbeing of our people,” said Impala Rustenburg CEO Moses Motlhageng.
“This safety reset reflects our belief that strong safety outcomes require continuous vigilance, meaningful workforce engagement and disciplined execution,” said Implats CEO Nico Muller. “It is the right action to take at this time.”
Over the year to end-June 2026, four people died at Implats operations.
Shares in Implats were virtually unchanged by late morning on Monday.
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