Mineworkers underground at Harmony Gold Mine's Cooke shaft near Johannesburg
Mineworkers underground at Harmony Gold Mine's Cooke shaft near Johannesburg, September 22, 2005. REUTERS

South Africa's Harmony Gold halted operations at its Bambanani mine on Thursday after a worker died due to falling rocks.

I can confirm (the death) ... our operations have been suspended at Bambanani, a company spokeswoman said.

The National Union of Mineworkers said in a statement the worker, a winch operator, died early on Thursday after a fall of ground.