Two more bodies recovered at Kimberley’s Ekapa Mine

Two more bodies have been recovered at the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley.

Last month five workers became trapped underground following a catastrophic mudslide.

Rescuers have identified a third body that is yet to be recovered

 Parliament’s mineral resources committee chairperson Mikateko Mahlaule said the mine rescue teams are making steady progress.

 "Two bodies have been recovered in a copper mine, and they are seeing the third body which in no time after removing the mud between them and the body they will be able to recover the third body. That will bring the total to four and we are comforted that the mine rescue services are in the correct path and direction to recover all based on the information they've gathered," said Mahlaule.

Mahlaule said that the priority is to bring all trapped miners to the surface before talks about possible retrenchments or closure.

The incident at the Ekapa Mine has raised concerns about the safety principles and supervision in the country’s mining sector.

Operations at the Kimberley based mine were shut down after the fiver miners were trapped underground.