Mine shaft will be closed, whether miners surface or not
The mine shaft from which more than 20 illegal miners were removed earlier this week will be sealed on March 3.
The ventilation shaft, which is in an open veld on the corner of Range View and Snake roads, will be closed, whether the remaining miners surface or not.
According to Gold One vice-president of investor relations Grant Stuart, notices of the closure have been erected around the shaft.
Stuart said the miners who came to the surface and those underground have been communicated with and told about the closure.
He said a concrete slab will be poured, which will be covered by top soil.
The shaft was last closed in December.
Stuart stressed that the shaft is not the only exit point for the miners.
About 30 people were believed to be trapped down the shaft since Saturday, last week.
Rescue operations to free the men began on Sunday.
Ekurhuleni Emergency Services spokesperson Roggers Mamaila confirmed at 8.20am this morning (Tuesday), that 25 miners had surfaced.
He believes five miners are still underground.
All the miners who surfaced received medical attention and were arrested on charges of illegal mining.
The process to extricate the miners started at around 11am on Sunday, after the EMPD were alerted to their presence during a by-laws operation, near the shaft.
A bystander told police the miners had been closed in by rival groups, who had allegedly robbed them.
Ekurhuleni rescue teams and Mines Rescue Services toiled for hours to extract 11 men by Sunday evening.
An additional 11 men were freed on Monday, and three this morning.
Mamaila said the process was delayed by the miners demanding a safe passage, by requesting not to be arrested.
Stuart said the miners were apparently not able to exit at other points, as other mining groups control those entry points.
