A desperate rescue operation is underway at the Ekapa Mining Joint Shaft in Kimberley, Northern Cape, where five mineworkers have been trapped underground for nearly 48 hours following a mudslide. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning in Tunnel 6, and as of Wednesday night, rescuers have been unable to establish communication with the missing men.
The Minerals Council South Africa is dispatching a senior management team to the mine to offer support and assistance to its member, Ekapa Mining. The team aims to understand the circumstances surrounding the mud rush to help prevent similar incidents across the industry, emphasizing that safety remains the primary focus of the mining charter.
However, the rescue mission is facing significant hurdles. Speaking from the mine, security manager Kwet Van Der Merwe confirmed that while the Minerals Council has arrived, there are still no updates on the rescue operation itself. The mine has called in specialized mine rescue services to try and fast-track the mission.
General Manager Howard Marsden provided insight into the technical challenges the team is facing. He explained that a “mud rush” occurs when water and mud-forming material combine and are released unexpectedly due to mining disturbances. He noted that while the mine has a history of mud rushes, significant effort had been made to mitigate the risks, primarily by eliminating water. “This one comes as a very difficult time at the moment,” Marsden said, adding that rescuers have not yet been able to penetrate the tunnel to make contact. Water continues to gush in, hampering efforts to drill through to the trapped workers. The mine is currently unaware if the miners have access to water, food, or adequate ventilation, and their condition remains unknown.
The situation has sparked outrage from labour federations. Zwelinzima Vavi, the General Secretary of Saftu (South African Federation of Trade Unions), has called for an urgent and independent investigation into the incident. Vavi criticized the mine’s management for a lack of transparency, stating they have not been updating the families, workers, or relevant parties.
“The least that the management could have done was to suspend mining activities and focus on finding those underground,” Vavi said. He expressed shock that operations elsewhere in the mine were continuing, suggesting that profits were being prioritized over lives. “It’s an inhumane statement that you can subject anybody to,” he added, questioning how other workers could be expected to continue without knowing if the danger had spread.
Vavi, a former mineworker himself, emphasized the desperate situation underground, describing the heat as “unbearable.” He called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum to launch an independent probe, arguing that mine management should not be left to investigate itself.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which organizes at the mine, has also demanded access to the site and clarity on the events leading up to the disaster. The union’s local secretary in Kimberley echoed the call for answers, highlighting the deep concern among workers and families.
As the clock ticks past the 48-hour mark, the focus remains on the trapped miners in Tunnel 6. The mine has promised another update on the rescue mission on Thursday morning.