Trapped KZN miners presumed dead, rescue called off
DURBAN – The brief search for illegal miners trapped underground in a disused illegal mine in Pongola has been abandoned, squashing any hopes that they might still be alive.
A rock fall at the Klipwal goldmine in Northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday prompted a response from emergency service personnel who had initially heard mumbling coming from one of the victims.
When no more sound was heard from the mine and amidst perilous conditions, the search was called off.
The illegal miners, known as a zama-zamas, had been inside the disused mine, looking for gold.
Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane said that officers had responded to the scene after the shaft had collapsed on Friday.
"Empangeni Search and Rescue Unit proceeded to the area. Durban Search and Rescue Team and other units assisted but could not be able to find them," he said.
"The operation was called off on Friday due to the fact that it was not safe to carry on. It is alleged that five illegal miners who were trapped inside are believed to be dead now. The police managed to arrest three other miners who were found at the mine. They were charged for illegal mining and trespassing," he said.
Zwane said that men were understood to be illegal immigrants and had appeared in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Complete range of security sealing solutions including security seals bags and labels.
VISIT SHOWROOM
CSIR International Convention Centre (CSIR ICC) - the leading conference and events venue in Pretoria/Tshwane.
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
