Vaal Reefs: Difference between revisions
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The town of Orkney is home to a large gold mining operation originally owned by [[AngloGold Ashanti]], a company that was originally incorporated in 1944 under the name of Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited.<ref name=aga>{{cite web|title=Group information|url=http://www.anglogold.com/subwebs/informationforinvestors/reports08/annualreport08/files/group_info.pdf|publisher=AngloGold Ashanti Limited|access-date=27 August 2014}}</ref> |
The town of Orkney is home to a large gold mining operation originally owned by [[AngloGold Ashanti]], a company that was originally incorporated in 1944 under the name of Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited.<ref name=aga>{{cite web|title=Group information|url=http://www.anglogold.com/subwebs/informationforinvestors/reports08/annualreport08/files/group_info.pdf|publisher=AngloGold Ashanti Limited|access-date=27 August 2014}}</ref> |
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==Disaster== |
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==Vaal Reefs tragedy== |
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{{main|Vaal Reefs mining disaster}} |
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| ⚫ | A mining accident on 10 May 1995 |
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| ⚫ | A mining accident on 10 May 1995 killed 104 miners. A locomotive fell into an [[elevator]] shaft at the edge of 56 level, {{convert|1676|m}} below the surface, landing on the cage and causing it to plunge {{convert|460|m}} to the bottom.<ref>{{cite web|title=104 miners are crushed to death when an elevator carrying gold miners plunges to the bottom of a Vaal Reef mineshaft near Orkney|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/104-miners-are-crushed-death-when-elevator-carrying-gold-miners-plunges-bottom-vaal-reef|publisher=South African History Online|access-date=27 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=indep>{{cite web|title=Locomotive crushes 105 gold miners|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/locomotive-crushes-105-gold-miners-1619145.html|publisher=The Independent|access-date=27 August 2014}}</ref> It is the deadliest ever elevator disaster.<ref>[http://www.miningweekly.com/print-version/vaal-reefs-tragedy-commemorated-2005-05-10 Vaal Reefs Tragedy Commemorated]</ref> |
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This tragedy brought two key changes to the mining industry. Firstly, the immediate implementation of the new Health & Safety Act – specifically the five basic rights – and secondly, for the first time ever, the stakeholders took care of the dependents after the death of breadwinners. |
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This tragedy brought two key changes to the mining industry: The immediate implementation of a new Health & Safety Act and shareholders providing compensation to dead workers' dependents. In this case, 431 dependents became beneficiaries of the Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust. They lived or live across South Africa (114), Lesotho (219), Mozambique (54), Botswana (31) and Eswatini (13).<ref>[http://vrdt.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=27 About Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust]</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Populated places in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality]] |
[[Category:Populated places in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Gold mines in South Africa]] |
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[[Category:1995 in South Africa]] |
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[[Category:1995 mining disasters]] |
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[[Category:1995 disasters in South Africa]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:21, 12 June 2023
Vaal Reefs | |
|---|---|
  Vaal Reefs  Vaal Reefs | |
| Coordinates: 26°55′44″S 26°44′10″E / 26.929°S 26.736°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | North West |
| District | Dr Kenneth Kaunda |
| Municipality | City of Matlosana |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.15 km2 (2.37 sq mi) |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
• Total | 11,345 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,800/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2001) | |
| • Black African | 94.8% |
| • Coloured | 0.2% |
| • White | 5.0% |
| First languages (2001) | |
| • Xhosa | 34.7% |
| • Sotho | 26.1% |
| • Tswana | 14.3% |
| • Tsonga | 6.0% |
| • Other | 18.9% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
Vaal Reefs is a gold bearing reef which is mined near the town of Orkney in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West province of South Africa.
The town of Orkney is home to a large gold mining operation originally owned by AngloGold Ashanti, a company that was originally incorporated in 1944 under the name of Vaal Reefs Exploration and Mining Company Limited.[2]
Disaster
[edit]A mining accident on 10 May 1995 killed 104 miners. A locomotive fell into an elevator shaft at the edge of 56 level, 1,676 metres (5,499 ft) below the surface, landing on the cage and causing it to plunge 460 metres (1,510 ft) to the bottom.[3][4] It is the deadliest ever elevator disaster.[5]
This tragedy brought two key changes to the mining industry: The immediate implementation of a new Health & Safety Act and shareholders providing compensation to dead workers' dependents. In this case, 431 dependents became beneficiaries of the Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust. They lived or live across South Africa (114), Lesotho (219), Mozambique (54), Botswana (31) and Eswatini (13).[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Main Place Vaal Reefs". Census 2001.
- ^ "Group information" (PDF). AngloGold Ashanti Limited. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "104 miners are crushed to death when an elevator carrying gold miners plunges to the bottom of a Vaal Reef mineshaft near Orkney". South African History Online. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "Locomotive crushes 105 gold miners". The Independent. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ Vaal Reefs Tragedy Commemorated
- ^ About Vaal Reefs Disaster Trust
Municipalities and communities of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, North West | ||
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District seat: Klerksdorp | ||
| JB Marks | .svg) | |
| City of Matlosana | ||
| Maquassi Hills | ||
 | This North West Province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |