MNO2605 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 1 2026 - DUE 10 April 2026; 100% Correct solutions and explanations.

MNO2605 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 1 2026 - DUE 10 April 2026; 100% Correct solutions and explanations. SECTION A: DECLARATION OF HONESTY Your assignment will not be marked if this declaration has not been completed and included in it. Please note that only one file can be uploaded. Declaration of own work I hereby declare that the work submitted is entirely my own and has not been copied from any other source. All content or material derived from other sources has been properly referenced. Module code: ______________________________________ Full name and surname: ______________________________________ Student number: ______________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________ (electronic / digital / handwritten signature / initial(s) and surname) Cell phone number: ______________________________________ SECTION B: THEORETICAL QUESTIONS CASE STUDY: DEADLY MUD RUSH TRAPS MINERS 800 METRES UNDERGROUND 24 February 2026 – Trade unions affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union have called for a formal inquiry into the incident at the Ekapa diamond mine in Kimberley, where five miners remain trapped underground following a severe mud rush. Rescue operations have been abandoned due to persistent flooding. Mud rush traps miners A mud rush in the early hours of 17 February sent an influx of mud and water surging through sections of the shaft, trapping miners at depths of more than 800 metres. On 20 February, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, visited the site and said the miners must be presumed deceased due to their prolonged exposure to extreme conditions. Call for independent investigation Whilst prioritising rescue efforts, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has urged the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to initiate a thorough and independent investigation. The union insists on a transparent process to determine the causes of the disaster and whether any lapses in safety management systems or operational protocols contributed to the disaster. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) echoed similar concerns, stressing that rescue efforts should continue. Mining’s ongoing dangers UASA The Union, in its statement, underscored the persistent hazards inherent in mining, emphasising that the government, mining stakeholders, social partners and employers must increase efforts towards achieving “Zero Harm”. “Notwithstanding existing safety protocols, mining continues to represent one of the most hazardous occupations, with workers’ lives repeatedly placed at risk. Every