Citation

Oosthuizen H. Med. Law 2003; 22(1): 11-28.

Affiliation

Department of Criminal and Medical Law, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Centre of Medicine and Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12809339

Abstract

The South African economy depends heavily on the mining industry. Deep level mining--which is a very common occurrence in the South African Mining Industry, is fraught with dangers. It is therefore inevitable that these dangers will be a constant source of medico-legal involvement. At the end of November 1996, a mining disaster occurred at the Rovic Diamond Mine between Boshof and Dealsville. At about 1000 metres underground, a mudslide occurred and trapped 20 miners. Rescue workers could only retrieve four bodies. Due to the dangers of additional mudslides and collapse of the entire slope, the rescue workers were withdrawn. The 16 miners were later declared dead by a Court Order after a full investigation into the disaster was completed. In this discussion focus will be placed on the Rovic Mine Disaster Investigation, the post mortem examination of the four victims, the legal declaration of death of the other victims not found and the legal accountability of the mine authority.

Language: en