The South African mining industry’s response to COVID-19 has been comprehensive, collaborative and effective. This page provides an update on the Minerals Council’s approach, including our daily dashboard, and the resources we make available to members and non-members alike.

COVID-19 will be with some for the foreseeable future, and we will continue to develop and implement leading practices to save lives and livelihoods. We will be guided by Standard Operating Procedures and in compliance with the DMRE Guidelines for a Mandatory Code of Practice on the Mitigation and Management of the COVID-19 Outbreak. We will continue to monitor and support vulnerable employees.

At work, we will continue to implement precautionary non-medical measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as screening and testing, social distancing, the wearing of masks and sanitising. More than that, companies will continue to provide education and communication to employees and community members around COVID-19, and how to prevent it. Our efforts to address the impact, and limit the spread of COVID-19, extend beyond the mine gate and are aimed at alleviating, where possible, the burden on public resources and providing support to communities.

Vaccines

The Minerals Council and our members are strongly supportive of government’s vaccine roll-out strategy. We will work closely with the DMRE and unions to achieve a smooth roll-out of vaccines at our mines and in mining communities, and to increase vaccine acceptance through education and communication.

We have offered our significant healthcare infrastructure and capacity to drive the vaccination process, and we hope to play a constructive role as designated points of care, particularly in those regions where there are clusters of mines and mining communities, and those remote regions where mining is the predominant economic activity. Our focus will not only be on ensuring that employees receive the vaccination, but also their families and communities.

Register for Phase 2 of the vaccine roll-out

Getting vaccinated if you are over 60 is critically important as people over the age of 60 are especially vulnerable and are three times more likely to be hospitalised and 15 times more likely to die due to complications related to COVID-19 than people under the age of 40.

Phase 2 of the vaccine roll-out is due to start on 17 May. Register now to receive the vaccine if you are over 60. Help your family members, neighbours and friends over the age of 60 to register. And if you are a frontline healthcare worker, don’t forget to register.

Find out how here.

Media release: Minerals Council urges employees over the age of 60 to register for vaccinations, and to assist family members and neighbours

Posters

If you are over 60, register to get the vaccine as soon as possible

Help people over 60 who are struggling to register for the vaccine

If you are a healthcare worker, register to get the vaccine

People over 60 are particularly at risk

Learn more about vaccines

The Minerals Council and mining unions have agreed that information and responsible communication is an important element in encouraging mining employees and communities to learn more about vaccines and to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity to do so. Together, #WeChooseVaccination.

Posters

COVID-19 is here with us to stay

Why you should vaccinate

How the vaccine works

Will the vaccine work?

Is the vaccine safe?

Are there vaccine side effects?

When will I be vaccinated?

Beware of false information

We accept and share responsibility

COVID-19 vaccine side effects explained

COVID-19 Vaccine video

How the COVID-19 vaccine works

Sesotho | Xhosa | Zulu

Why vaccinating is the right thing to do

Sesotho | Xhosa | Zulu

No, it’s not true! Dealing with vaccine myths

Sesotho | Xhosa | Zulu

MEDIA RELEASES

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COVID UPDATE

AUDIO: COVID-19 update, 04 February 2021

PRESENTATION: COVID-19 update, 04 February 2021

PRESENTATION - COVID-19 Provincial comparison, 04 February 2021

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Daily dashboard

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18 June 2021 10:00

Dr Thuthula Balfour, Head of Health at the Minerals Council provides an overview of the mining industry’s readiness for the roll-out of vaccines.

MYTH: We don't know what is in the vaccines

FACT: We do know what's in the vaccines

Vaccine manufactureres are required to declare their ingredients to SAHPRA before the vaccine is approved for use. Despite theories circulated on social media, they do not contain microchips or any form of tracking device. If they did contain such items SAHPRA will not authorize use of the vaccine.

Source: Department of Health

MYTH: You can test positive because of the vaccines

FACT: You cannot test positive because of the vaccines

There's no live virus in the vaccines, so it can't infect you. Basically the vaccines stiulates our immune system to produce antibodies which fight the virus when it enters your body.

Source: Department of Health

MYTH: There is a microchip in the vaccine

FACT: There is no microchip or tracking device of any kind in either vaccine

Vaccine manufacturers are required to declare their ingredients to SAHPRA before the vaccine is approved for use. Despite theories circulated on social media, they do not contain microchips or any form of tracking device. If they did contain such items SAHPRA will not authorize use of the vaccine.

Source: Department of Health

MYTH: The vaccines will alter your DNA

FACT: The vaccines will not change your DNA

The vaccine contains mRNA (messenger RNA). RNA is the messenger that carries and instruction from the DNA and stranslates it into protein. After mRNA has performed its function it gets into the muscle cell and then gets degraded. There is no change to the DNA.

Source: Department of Health

MYTH: I already had COVID-19, I will not benefit from taking the vaccine

FACT: I already had COVID-19, I can still benefit from the vaccine

We don't yet know how long natural immunity to COVID-19 lasts. Right now, it seems that getting COVID-19 more than once is not common, but there are still many questions that remain unanswered.

The CDC recommends that those who have had COVID-19 get the vaccine. There is preliminary evidence that the vaccine offers better protection than having had the virus.

Source: Department of Health

MYTH: 5G mobile networks spreads COVID-19

FACT: 5G mobile networks DO NOT spread COVID-19

Viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface then their eyes, mouth or nose.

Source: Department of Health