Mantashe calls for presumption of death for five trapped Ekapa miners

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe says miners trapped in the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, following a mudslide two weeks ago, should be presumed dead.

Mantashe said false hope should not be created that the mud-clearing efforts will result in anybody still being found alive.

Responding to a question about the mop-up operations in Parliament onTuesday afternoon, Mantashe said mud and stones have been cleared from the east and west of the affected shaft to a distance of 74 metres.

But he had some hard truths to share about the unlikely survival of the five men believed still to be trapped.

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"Unfortunately, nobody has been discovered, that’s why I’ve insisted, let’s do what is called in law, presumption of death, rather than promising life where there’s no likelihood of life. And I hope all geologists would appreciate that a mudslide is not like rockfall, where you can actually be behind the rockfall. Mudslides run over you and a day long under a mudslide, you are unlikely to survive."

After two visits to the mine since the mudslide, Mantashe said he intends to pay a third visit to the site soon.

Meanwhile, the minister said he’s shocked by plans to liquidate the mine following the incident.

"The lack of payment of salaries, that’s a union matter. That is not a government matter, and we said they must meet the union, and they’ve at least met once. I don’t know if they’ve had a follow-up. I will make my own follow-up at Ekapa, during this week."