A 27-year old soon to be father died in an abandoned mine pit.
On Wednesday, July 26 Mr Donald Sambo entered the abandoned mine pit, but he never emerged with the coal he wanted to sell securing him a meal for the evening and maybe something new for the baby his girlfriend was expecting.
At around 15:00 rocks fell on Sambo killing him instantly.
The Mines Rescue Team had to be watchful of the unstable abandoned mine pit when they retrieved the body of Mr Donald Sambo.
Mr Jacob Mashego, who was also digging for coal alongside Sambo said it was a horrifying experience.
“I was next to Donald and heard a very funny noise like something tearing loose. The next moment Donald was on the ground buried in a pile of rocks.”
It took the Mines Rescue Team six hours to retrieve Mr Donald Sambo’s body.
Mashego said they have been friends for the past five years. Their friendship started in the same mine pit where Sambo died.
Illegal digging for coal claimed another life.
“We came to this mine pit everyday and dug out coal. There is enough coal to have guaranteed us a lifetime of income,” Mashego said.
The Mines Rescue Team had to lower Mr Donald Sambo’s body down a steep incline on Thursday July 27.
The pair sold the coal in bags for R30 each. For a bakkie load they got R1 400, which they shared.
Read the FULL story in the WITBANK NEWS out today
ALSO READ
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/41735/dying-for-coal/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/96612/mans-body-retrieved-mine/
