As calls go out for mining to resume on April 17 or face serious setback, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has found excellent Covid-19 compliance by some coal mines that have been allowed to stay open to supply coal to Eskom – but inadequate response to directives by others. The Minister undertook unannounced visits to collieries in Mpumalanga last week to assess the extent to which mines are observing the directives and guiding principles issued to mines to prevent the spread of the virus.
