Johannesburg — THE death toll at Impala Platinum's ( Implats ') Rustenburg operations climbed to nine after seven more bodies were recovered on Monday, making this one of the single worst mining accidents in SA this year.

Despite extensive discussion, target-setting and regulation over several years, about 200 people die each year in South African mines. Trade union Solidarity said 104 people had died this year alone, including the latest deaths at Implats.

Implats said the nine workers were killed by a fall of ground in one of the mechanised panels at the No14 shaft in Rustenburg. Friday had been set aside as a day of mourning, it said.

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the union was shocked and saddened by the event especially as it seemed to be mainly about a lack of underground support where the company was using mechanised mining methods.

"If you want to use mechanised mining, you have to do it strictly," he said. "I think the company had come up with its own way of doing things."

The NUM was opposed to mechanised mining in principle although it was not entirely opposed to it in certain situations in deep-level gold mines, Seshoka said.

"Although accidents repeatedly take place due to reasons beyond the control of mining companies -- as in the case of seismic activities -- poor safety decisions play a significant part in mining deaths," Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said.

The United Association of SA estimated fatalities and safety-related closures at SA's mines could cost the economy about R4,6bn a year.