A full month has now passed since the mysterious disappearance of 45-year-old Tshepo Motsiye, who is believed to be one of two men trapped in a sealed-off, disused mine shaft near Clewer.

As the days continue to pass with no confirmed developments or signs of life, Motsiye’s family remains in a state of anguish, clinging to fading hope.
Motsiye was last seen on June 13, after he told his partner he was heading to Vosman Circle.

His sudden disappearance sparked concern, but it wasn’t until several days later that a man came forward, saying he had been underground with Motsiye and another man when they allegedly became trapped inside the abandoned Greenside Colliery mine shaft.

That man, however, disappeared before he could provide any detailed account or lead rescue personnel to the location, leaving the family in an unbearable limbo and sparking a major search-and-rescue operation.

The Vosman Police, Thungela Resources, and local emergency units immediately mobilised to investigate the claim. However, rescue efforts were quickly hindered by the extreme dangers present in the old mine shaft. Officials cited toxic gas buildup, unstable infrastructure, and a high risk of collapse as major obstacles preventing deeper exploration of the site.

Thungela Resources confirmed that, following reports of unauthorized entry into the area by community members, an inspection revealed tampering with the crusher borehole cover, a part of the now-defunct mining site.

As a precautionary and hopeful measure, food and water were lowered into the shaft in case the men were alive and able to access them. No signs of movement or response were detected.

“The crusher borehole cover has since been resecured in line with our strict safety protocols,” said Hulisani Rasivhaga, head of communications at Thungela. “The matter is now fully in the hands of SAPS, and we continue to support the ongoing investigation.”

Despite their efforts, there have been no sightings, signals, or verifiable evidence confirming whether Motsiye or the second man is still alive or even if they ever entered the shaft in question.

Breaking news | No trace of two men believed to be trapped in an abandoned mine
Read more here: https://t.co/gm7oJ1QfDh#Witbanknews #emalahleni #Vosman #SAPS

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 23, 2025

For the Motsiye family, the lack of answers has been devastating.

“It’s been four weeks, and we still don’t know anything,” said his partner. “It’s unbearable waking up every day not knowing where he is, somewhere underground, hurt, scared, or worse. We can’t grieve. We can’t move forward. We’re stuck.”

The family has also raised concerns about the pace and direction of the investigation, urging authorities to intensify their search and calling on anyone with information to come forward.

@witbanknews No trace of two men believed to be trapped in an abandoned mine Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/3punfyx5 #Witbanknews #emalahleni #Vosman #SAPS #fyp ♬ original sound – witbanknews

“Someone knows something,” the partner insisted. “Even a small detail could be crucial in bringing him back to us. We’re begging anyone who saw or heard anything to speak up.”

A tense search continues for two men, including 45-year-old Tshepo Motsiye, who vanished after reportedly entering a sealed-off shaft at Greenside Colliery near Clewer
Read more here: https://t.co/3KdQzMPBzg#Witbanknews #emalahleni #Witbankn #Clewer

— WitbankNews (@WitbankN) June 23, 2025

Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram or TikTok

Chat to us: info@witbanknews.co.za