Pretoria - Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said her department will draw lessons from Chile to help the South African mining industry to prevent disasters.
Shabangu was referring to the incident where 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground for 69 days in a hot, humid shelter some 700 meters underground.
The miners were trapped from 5 August and they were confirmed alive on 22 August. They were all eventually successfully rescued on 13 October.
No one in history has been trapped so deep underground for so long and survived.
South African company, Murray & Roberts, offered some assistance to the Chilean government in the rescue operation.
"The Chilean rescue operations further demonstrated that when all stakeholders, the state, mine owners and employees work together on health and safety, success can be achieved," she said.
