An employee died after falling onto a conveyor belt March 25 at De Beers SA's Venetia diamond mine in South Africa, African News Agency reported March 27, citing a police statement.

The statement also said the incident was being treated as a "case of culpable homicide."

The National Union of Mineworkers voiced concern about the fatalities and injuries happening in South Africa's mining industry.

The union urged the government to address issues including work hours in the mining industry as compared to other sectors, leave days for workers, and creating minimum standards for the distance employees have to travel per shift.

Phillip Mankge, the union's regional secretary comrade, will visit the mine on a fact-finding mission.