Trapped miners located, safe and have food – Sibanye-Stillwater

Sibanye-Stillwater says the hundreds of trapped mineworkers at its Kloof 7 sub-shaft were located and it is expected that they will all be brought to the surface from midday today, May 23.

• Read the initial article here: About 300 Sibanye Stillwater miners trapped without access to food or water

In a statement issued by the executive vice president for investor relations and corporate affairs at Sibanye-Stillwater, James Wellsted, this follows a shaft incident that occurred at the shaft on May 22.

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

“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. It is estimated that all affected employees will be brought to the surface around midday today.”

Wellsted further states 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.”