Mantashe confident trapped Kimberley miners will be retrieved soon
Dewatering complete as rescue teams enter critical second phase at Ekapa mine
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe says the retrieval of the bodies of the five men trapped 890 meters underground will be achieved soon.
Mantashe returned to Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, on Friday, where rescue operations have been ongoing following the tragic incident that left five miners trapped deep below the surface.
The visit marks a critical moment in the operation, as officials confirmed that the dewatering process has been successfully completed. This breakthrough has allowed rescue teams to move into the next, more delicate phase of the mission.
Second Phase Underway Clearing Stones and Mud
With water now pumped out of the shaft, teams have begun loading and removing stones and mud to gain access to the trapped miners. The site, located in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, has become the focus of national attention as families and communities await closure.
Mantashe emphasized that progress is tangible and steady, with teams working urgently yet carefully to ensure the safe retrieval of the miners’ bodies.
He also called on mine management to halt the liquidation process until the bodies of the trapped miners have been retrieved, stressing the importance of prioritizing dignity and closure for the families affected.
In his address at the site, Mantashe said:
“Management must meet both unions regularly. That is the first thing. On the rescue operation, at least they have pumped the water out. They are now loading stones and mud. We’re hoping that by this time tomorrow, we’ll be expecting to reach the first body, if we can, it’s an estimate. We must reach the first body. If we can reach the first body, the priority is to take those bodies out of the ground.”
