Sibanye-Stillwater says the hundreds of trapped mineworkers at its Kloof 7 sub-shaft – near Randfontein and Westonaria – have been located and will be brought up to the surface.

Randfontein Herald reports that, in a statement issued by the executive vice president for investor relations and corporate affairs at Sibanye-Stillwater, James Wellsted, the miners were trapped as a result of an incident that occurred at the shaft yesterday.

“All 260 employees have been accounted for, are safe and have been provided with food,” the statement by Wellsted read.

“We are actively implementing our safety and shaft examination procedures. Once these are completed, we will begin hoisting employees to the surface. Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, to avoid walking long distances at this time.”

Wellsted said that initial investigations show that the Kloof 7 sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point on level 39, impacting levels 40 and 41 below this point.

“The open door of the skip caused some damage at level 35, and the work to make this safe has been completed.”

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