The abandoned CRD mine in Florida where the incident occurred. Photo: Supplied
Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) died after falling down a mine shaft during an illegal mining operation earlier today, July 17.
According to an earlier statement by police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the SANDF members were participating in Operation Prosper, a joint initiative between the SANDF and the South African Police Service (SAPS) aimed at curbing illegal mining, when they spotted suspected illegal miners emerging from underground workings at the abandoned Central Rand Gold shaft in Florida.
Multiple search and rescue teams were on site to assist with the rescue operation. Photo: Supplied
The members pursued the suspects through a mining tunnel when they allegedly slipped and fell into a vertical mine shaft.
“Specialised emergency response units, including Disaster Management teams and private company Mine Rescue Services, were activated immediately to begin rescue efforts,” said Muridili.
The Roodepoort Record has since learned that a number of arrests were made, and mining equipment and gold-bearing material were confiscated during the operation. Photo: Supplied
The SANDF later confirmed that the recovery operation had concluded with the retrieval of the bodies of both members.
“The process of formally identifying the deceased and notifying their next of kin is currently underway,” the statement read.
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"Johan is an internationally published journalist and editor with extensive experience in news and industry reporting. His work has featured in numerous publications over the years.
He cut his teeth at the Roodepoort Record and Northside Chronicle as proofreader, swiftly progressing to junior journalist. He later joined Randfontein Herald as journalist and eventually worked his way up to becoming editor. During his years away from Caxton, he fulfilled journalist and editor positions for various industry publications at the once mighty Malnor Media House right up to their closure in 2019. This position saw him traveling all over the world on writing assignments. Since 2019, he has worked as a freelancer for various publishing houses, and had a year-long stint as senior editor for a large stable of retail and medical B2B titles, until rapid growth of his own small business required his fulltime attention. At the end of 2023, with his own business now fully staffed, Johan decided to dedicate himself to his first love, working as a local journalist for the good of his community.
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