Ekapa recovers body of trapped miner after Kimberley mud rush
Ekapa mine says it has recovered the body of one miner after a mud rush at Kimberley’s Du Toitspan Joint Shaft trapped five workers underground. Search operations are continuing for the other four miners.
Ekapa mine confirmed on Monday that the body of one of the five miners, who have been trapped underground, has been retrieved. The workers were reported missing following an underground flood and mud rush at the Du Toitspan Joint Shaft in Kimberley last month.
According to officials, the miners were engulfed by a sudden, high-speed mudflow. While many mineworkers managed to escape the rush, five were buried beneath the surface.
Recovery has been slowed by high water levels and difficult drilling conditions.
Teams have been struggling to reach the areas underground where the miners were working due to concerns regarding structural integrity.
Victims' names won't be released for now
In a statement released on Monday, the mine said the family of the victim has requested that the miner's identity be withheld.
According to Ekapa, more information will be made available once the identification process has been concluded.
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“Formal identification processes are currently underway, and further information will be shared once these procedures have been completed and when appropriate to do so.
“The company extends its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues, and loved ones of the miner during this extremely difficult time,” reads the statement.
The Council for Geoscience was brought in to provide technical support and help identify the source of the water.
Diamond mine Ekapa applies for liquidation
The mine’s owner applied for liquidation days after the tragedy.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Kimberley region expressed deep shock at the company’s sudden decision to immediately close.
The union has described the move as a devastating blow to workers and the broader community.
NUM regional secretary, Mesepedi Senane, said instead of a period of reflection, investigation and corrective action, workers were told not to return to work as the mine moves toward liquidation.
Senane said the timing could not be worse.
“Looking at the number of people or workers who are expected to go home, looking at the town of Kimberly on its own, and looking at the unemployment rate in the Northern Cape province. This is a real blow to the working class and the community at large.”
In February, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe visited the site and said that the liquidation process should be delayed until all the mineworkers are recovered.
“Announcing liquidation during a disaster is an act of bad faith on the part of the mine, particularly in an industry where workers' lives have been endangered in the past."
The company says it will continue to provide updates as the operation progressed
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