Leeuwpan celebrates 36 years fatality-free

Leeuwpan marked 36 fatality-free years, reminding us that every safe shift starts with our choices.

Thirty-six years. Thousands of shifts. Countless decisions to put safety first. Leeuwpan Mine marked 36 years without a fatality at a special Safety Indaba that brought employees, business partners, organised labour, government representatives and leaders together to recognise an achievement built over decades.

The occasion began with a prayer and a moment of remembrance for colleagues who had lost their lives at work. It reminded everyone that behind every safety milestone are people and families whose lives matter.

Leeuwpan General Manager Ronald Teffo paid tribute to the generations of employees and business partners whose commitment has made this achievement possible. “We had a full 36 years of employees going home safely, families staying together and protecting lives,” he said. Reflecting on Leeuwpan's Lion-Hearted Safety Commitment, Ronald reminded everyone that maintaining this record depends on what happens every day: identifying risks, applying critical controls and looking out for one another.

Mbaliyethu Gumede, Manager: Risk and Sustainability, reflected on the progress made in strengthening Leeuwpan’s safety culture between 2020 and 2025, highlighting visible leadership and shared responsibility. In 2026, the mine also recorded 365 Lost Time Injury-free days, having completed the second quarter without any reported LTIs.

One of the day's most sobering moments came from safety advocate Partington Oswald Mtatabikwa, who shared how taking a shortcut while working as a fitter and turner resulted in an incident that cost him an arm and a leg. His message was as moving as it was direct: never allow familiarity with a task to become complacency. Follow procedures every time. If it isn't safe, don't do it.

Neo Monareng, Executive Head of Sustainability, connected these lessons to Exxaro’s One Voice Safety Strategy, which aims to create a consistent approach to safety across our operations.

The programme also included the #MineYourWords industrial theatre performance and Social Media Policy socialisation, encouraging responsible online behaviour.