Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- South African mine deaths may have fallen as much as 9.4 percent to 116 last year from 128 in 2010, Lesiba Seshoka, a spokesman for the National Union of Mineworkers said by phone today.

That was the union’s estimate in December, he said by phone today, adding the final number could be closer to 120.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Carli Lourens at clourens@bloomberg.net