Rescue teams yet to make headway in bringing second group of trapped Kloof miners to surface
Several of the mine workers have been rescued, with the first group re-emerging almost four hours ago.
Some of the resurfaced 260 employees stuck underground sit inside a bus as they leave the South Africa's Sibanye Stillwater's Kloof 7 sub-shaft in Westonaria on 23 May 2025. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP
JOHANNESBURG - Rescue teams working to bring trapped miners back to the surface at Sibanye-Stillwater's Kloof operations in the west of Johannesburg are yet to make headway on hauling up a second group of workers.
Two hundred and sixty miners failed to resurface at the end of their shift on Thursday after what's been described as a technical issue.
Several of the mine workers have been rescued, with the first group re-emerging almost four hours ago.
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Health and safety chairperson for the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Duncan Luvuno: "Luckily or fortunately, we thank God that thus far there have been no fatalities or injuries. We thank God because of the recklessness and arrogance of this management."
One of the relatives waiting anxiously for his brother's safe return said that mine management had not been forthcoming with information about the rescue operation.
"The issue is that I'm unable to go home because I have no answers for them about what is happening here at the mine."