The last couple of months have been testing times for employees from Koornfontein (Gloria section) and Optimum Mine as for many of the employees their last pay check was received in October 2018.
But when the employee’s telephones started to ring on Wednesday, February 6 and they were told about the explosion and that there were people trapped underground, these employees did not hesitate to do so.
For the last four months there has been no activity on the mine and the mine is in a terrible state.
It’s alleged that a group of approximately 40 people were working illegally on the mine, stealing copper cables.
A large group of illegal miners managed to get out before the explosion occurred; it’s believed that approximately 22 people are still trapped underground.
When the different Proto Teams went down to retrieve the bodies of the family members who went to rescue the illegal miners that were trapped, they also died due to the gasses in the mine.
For the paramedics on scene, they could see a clear difference in the Proto Teams, the ones that are eating right and the ones that are not.
That evening four bodies were retrieved from the mine shaft.
All these employees are now waiting to hear when they can go down again to retrieve the bodies.
Hats off to these faithful employees who will still go out to help retrieve the bodies of other peoples loved ones, even though they are risking their own lives and once again take in consideration that they have not been paid either.
READ MORE: Donations needed for Feed the Miner https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/122008/donations-needed-feed-miner/
