UPDATE 2-S.African mine audit shows low safety compliance

(Adds more quotes, details on new safety bill)

By Wendell Roelf

CAPE TOWN, June 11 (Reuters) - Results of a nationwide safety audit of South African mines were "worrying" because they showed a low level of safety compliance, a top government mining official told parliament on Wednesday.

South African President Thabo Mbeki ordered the mine safety audit in October following a series of mine accidents.

"We've been doing this presidential audit and the results would be out soon and they are worrying," Thabo Gazi, the chief inspector of mines at the Department of Minerals and Energy told MPs during a briefing on a new mine safety bill.

"They are really worrying because generally levels of compliance in our industry is low," Gazi said.

Gazi said the audit, which targeted 333 high-risk and targeted mines, was close to being finalised and was expected to be handed over to Mbeki in mid-July.

The audit was ordered by Mbeki after an accident last year which trapped 3,200 workers at Harmony Gold's (HARJ.J) Elandsrand mine underground for close to 48 hours.

The incident highlighted mine safety issues, coming after a string of fatal accidents which, according to Gazi, has now reached a "plateau" of about 200 fatalities a year after declining from 1,000 deaths a year in 1987 to 500 in 1997.