Labour

In any mine accident in South Africa, important behind-the-scenes players are the personnel of the Mines Rescue Services (MRS), commonly known in the industry as proto teams. Started 80 years ago to provide resources and expertise for an effective emergency service in the mining sector, MRS is a private sector, non-profit organisation that trains volunteer brigadesmen who work within the industry to find and recover fellow employees in the event of an underground accident or incident.

Through the years until the new democratically elected government of South Africa in 1994, the proto teams consisted of whites only. Although there was no legislation excluding people of colour, brigadesmen are usually drawn from within the supervisory ranks from which - historically - men of colour and women were excluded.

The transformation of the mine's proto teams, in line with the management structure of the company, has become an important priority for AngloGold Ashanti.

In this, AngloGold Ashanti is not unique. Presently there are 817 brigadesmen in service, of whom 724 are white and only 93 are men of colour. Christo de Klerk, MRS general manager says, "The integration is slow but it is taking place. This is a voluntary programme with a long legacy of affiliations. Although we have had many more men of colour joining us in the past few years, many of these have progressed into the management ranks which makes it difficult for them to continue with their work in the rescue services."

One of the elements that needs to be overcome is the historical legacy of who and what makes up a brigadesman - many of the people who are currently in the service are following in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers. There is also a natural inclination among those who have grown up together, studied and worked together, and socialised together, to join the service. Although integration of employees is taking place at a mine level, this is sometimes a slow process.

Mponeng's Rocky Tsoeute was one of the mine's first persons of colour to join the mine's rescue team. Nearby Savuka and TauTona also have men of colour in their rescue teams.

Tsoeute, Mponeng's brigadesman says, "What attracted me was the discipline and the dedication the rescue teams showed - I wanted to be part of that. Also, as a mineworker, there are a lot of accidents in the industry so I wanted to be part of the solution rather than stand back and criticise the management."

When asked about the barriers in the rescue services, he said that there is not enough information readily available on the proto teams. Some people still regard it as reserved for the elite group.

MRS itself is making efforts to transform its teams - when selecting new candidates, HDSA candidates will receive first preference.