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COMMISSION
  
OF
  
INQUIRY
  
INTO
  
SAFETY
  
AND
  
HEALTH
  
IN
  
THE
  
MINING
  
INDUSTRY 
 
50 
 
CERTIFCATION UNDER ACT 78 OF 1973: BLACKS 
 
 
 
 
 
LIVING 
 
           DECEASED 
PERIOD  CD CD+T 
T/c T/a Total 1ST  2ND  2+T  T 
Total 
 
10/73 
- 
3/74 323 578 981 192 2074 152 43  35  2  232 
 
4/74 
- 
3/75  740  1055 1900 421  4116 325  55  66  6 
452 
 
4/75 
- 
3/76  847 1312 2293 549 5001 440 60  109 4  613 
 
4/76 
- 
3/77  1077 1389 2692 508  5666 359  46  73  3 
481 
 
4/77 
- 
3/78  1039 1153 2795 361  5348 344  58  94  3 
499 
 
4/78 
- 
3/79  774 759 3042 414 4989 330 68  103 1  502 
 
4/79 
- 
3/80  660 620 3071 300 4651 385 61  84  4  534 
 
4/80 
- 
3/81  682 968 3175 305 5130 491 86  107 0  684 
 
4/81 
- 
3/82  620 913 2978 276 4787 423 76  111 3  613 
 
4/82 
- 
3/83  660 793 3273 154 4880 406 74  103 2  585 
 
4/83 
- 
3/84  649 890 3424 205 5168 415 78  130 2  625 
 
4/84 
- 
3/85  576 669 3217 117 4579 463 83  108 1  655 
 
4/85 
- 
3/86  2282 646 3534 177 6639 414 95  119 4  632 
 
4/86 
- 
3/87  2414 599 3964 152 6859 451 130 116 2  699 
 
4/87 
- 
3/88  2927 606 3390 130 7053 420 97  112 2  631 
 
4/88 
- 
3/89  2211 674 3678 136 6699 455 85  156 3  699 
 
4/89 
- 
3/90  1215 487 3939 164 5805 277 67  126 2  472 
 
4/90 
- 
12/91 
    4990 
    915 
 
1/91 
- 
12/92 
    4628 
    491 
      99062 
    11014 
 
 
T = TB only   
 
Tc = TB current 
 
 
T/a = TB antedated 
 
In a period of about 20 years 128 575 mineworkers have been certified as having 
acquired occupational diseases.  The actual number is certainly much higher as a 
result of under ascertainment among migrant labourers who have returned to their 
rural homes in any one of several labour reservoirs within South Africa or the 
neighbouring States.  Practically nothing is known about the fate of the persons with 
certified occupational disease.  A systematic study of the vital status of cases at 
intervals after certification is essential if appropriate services are to be provided for   
 

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COMMISSION
  
OF
  
INQUIRY
  
INTO
  
SAFETY
  
AND
  
HEALTH
  
IN
  
THE
  
MINING
  
INDUSTRY 
 
51 
 
persons who have acquired disease in the course of their employment in the mines.  
Though there is evidence that simple silicosis progresses very slowly, if at all, once 
exposure has ceased, there is no doubt that tuberculosis superimposed on simple 
silicosis may lead to rapid deterioration, and that asbestos sets in train a progressive 
disease in the absence of further exposure. 
 
Careful scrutiny of this table may lead to a number of differing conclusions.  It can 
be said with confidence that it is not possible to demonstrate a consistent downward 
trend in the numbers certified in any category.  In addition it is clear that the number 
of cases of tuberculosis certified among currently employed black miners is 
evidence of a failure of control in the mining industry and in the country as a whole.  
The table does not include cases of tuberculosis in workers employed in non-risk 
work.  There is no information on the number of such workers, but it is reasonable to 
assume that the actual total of cases is considerably larger than the official figures 
suggest. 
 
4.5.11  Evidence put before the Commission by Dr. White and Dr. Leger suggests similar 
conclusions.  In addition they show that although the time between first exposure 
and the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis has increased for white miners, this is not true 
for black miners.  This is consistent with the hypothesis that white miners in a 
largely supervisory position are less exposed to dust whereas black miners in the 
stopes are as heavily exposed as they were several decades ago.  Elsewhere evidence 
will be cited to suggest that dust levels have not changed for decades.  Evidence 
from a recent study of pneumoconiosis among coal miner’s suggests that though 
fewer workers are developing coal worker’s pneumoconiosis they are developing it 
sooner. 
 
The evidence demonstrates only too clearly the failure to relate dust levels to the 
pattern of certification, and to identify the risk areas and the groups of workers at 
risk.  The absence of a systematic approach to the control of respiratory disease 
reflects the absence of appropriate analysis of available data and the long standing 
fragmentation of services between distinct government departments. 
 
4.5.12  Evidence cited by Dr. White from work done by him in the early 1980s indicated 
that the death rates among South African miners from all causes or from disease had 
not changed substantially between 1940 and 1980, despite the dramatic fall in both 
rates between 1920 and 1940 (White Fig 1.1 p 10). 
 
4.5.13  Estimates of the proportion of miners employed in particular tasks who will develop 
pneumoconiosis still rely heavily on the original studies carried out by Beadle, and 
amplified and commented on by Du Toit, Hnizdo and King, and cited in evidence to 
the Commission by White and Leger.  There is general agreement that a worker in 
high dust areas such as drilling, high speed development or shaft sinking for 20 
years or more may face a 20 - 30% risk of developing simple silicosis.  Using a 
proxy measure for risk, the length of employment of certified cases of 
pneumoconiosis, it can be shown that the risk has not changed for black miners. 
 
4.5.14  Attention was drawn to the fact that apart from the study referred to earlier, which 
suggests that coal miners are developing disease sooner, there is very little 
information on the risk in gold, platinum and other mines. 

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