More than 20 miners reportedly trapped after explosion at Middelburg mine

The Gloria manganese mine shut its doors four months ago, leaving hundreds of workers unpaid. In the months since, the number of instances of cable theft has increased dramatically.

Forty-two Lesotho nationals are said to have gone underground in an attempt to steal cables from the mine. A gas explosion occurred while they were underground.

Twenty of the group managed to make it out of the mine, while 22 are still stuck underground. Teams are currently on-site with rescue efforts in progress. At this time there has been no indication if the miners are still alive.

One declared dead, the others’ fate remain uncertain

So far, one miner was declared dead, but Brigadier Leanoard Hlathi confirmed to Siphephile Kunene from SABC News that rescue operations are still underway. He expressed concern over the incident and said illegal mining was an ongoing problem.

Brig Leonard Hlathi also warned members of the community that illegal mining is hazardous. He said:

“Apart from the number that was alleged, we also have four who are currently stuck just at the mouth of the shaft. […] Hopefully, they will also be found alive.”

He said it would be risky to retrieve them at this stage. An additional concern, he noted, was that illegal miners are often “armed to the teeth,” and police officers had been injured in the past when engaging in a firefight with illegal miners.

The Department of Minerals RSA said they are aware of the incident and confirmed that the mine is not operational at this stage. They added:

“Our investigators are en route for inspection, and we are engaging with Mine Rescue Services for assistance.”

Family members of those trapped have gathered at the scene and are still waiting for confirmation about their loved ones. The story is developing, we will share updates as and when it becomes available.