Two people suspected to be illegal miners are trapped in a collapsed mine shaft in Rand Leases in Roodepoort.

According to Florida CPF chairperson Farhaad Sardiwalla, he received a call from a community member at around 19:00 on Saturday, reporting the trapped men.

“I rushed to the scene and came across what appears to be an air vent shaft. I could hear faint shouting emanating from the shaft. I alerted Florida police and the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services (CoJEMS), who responded to the scene.

“It quickly became apparent that this would not be an easy rescue, as the men are trapped very deep underground. Emergency Search and Rescue Unit members assessed the scene, determining that the collapse occurred about 60m down, and the men are trapped somewhere below.”

Another source told the Roodepoort Record that elevated CO₂ levels were detected in the shaft, apparently necessitating the abandonment of initial rescue attempts.

The Record spoke to CoJEMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi at the scene, who said the operation to rescue the men falls under the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), as CoJEMS is only authorised to conduct rescues up to 2m depths.

“The scene has been taken over by DMR, and we are here to support them. Mine Rescue Services are on scene and assessing the best way forward,” he said.

On the Record’s arrival at the shaft, faint moaning could be heard from underground, though the condition of the men remains unclear.

According to community and family members, the men, who live at Jerusalema informal settlement, were out looking for firewood when they came across the shaft and fashioned a makeshift ladder from discarded tyres to climb in.

Rescue efforts are set to continue this morning as The Citizen reports teams called off their operation last night for safety reasons.