Kimberley Mine Disaster: Rescue of 5 Trapped Workers Hampered by Rising Water, Miners Presumed Dead – Mantashe

Rescue efforts continue at Ekapa Minerals’ Joint Shaft Mine in Kimberley for five miners trapped underground, but Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has confirmed that, given the conditions created by the mud rush, the workers are “presumed dead.”

On Friday, Mantashe, accompanied by Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett, conducted an inspection of the mine’s underground shafts.

Mantashe highlighted that rising water levels are complicating the operation, meaning it is taking “longer than expected.”

“If you come back after the water is pumped out, it is high again the following day. We can sugarcoat it, but it is quite difficult as the water is deep and the situation is complex. The mining company is focused on the rescue operation. Drilling is being done far from where the bodies are estimated to be trapped. After so many days, we are making a presumption of death as the possibility of death is high and the possibility of life is minimal,” Mantashe said.

The minister stressed that families are being updated to prevent false hope. “We hope we can find those bodies. Families are being briefed so that they do not hold on to false hope. We aim for zero deaths, yet accidents still occur,” he said.

Mantashe also described the mine accident as a disaster, noting the devastating impact on families who have lost breadwinners.

“This is not a human rights issue as mining is difficult, dangerous and deadly. Miners take on this risk on a voluntary basis,” he added.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources will oversee a detailed investigation into the incident.

“We must get GeoScience to investigate the source of the water. We must be patient and first retrieve the bodies before starting the investigation. I don’t want to speculate on the causes or make premature assumptions,” Mantashe concluded.

DAILY NEWS