Sibanye workers begin to surface after accident at South African gold mine

Nearly a third of the 260 miners who were trapped underground following an accident at a Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine in South Africa have been brought to the surface, the company announced on Friday. The incident occurred at the Kloof gold mine, located about 37 miles west of Johannesburg, when the hoist system used to access a shaft was damaged.

Sibanye reported that 79 employees had been successfully rescued by 1:30 p.m. local time in the initial phase of the operation. The remaining 181 miners were provided with food and were expected to be hoisted to the surface once safety protocols were confirmed.

Thankfully, there were no injuries or fatalities reported during the incident, according to National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Health and Safety Chairperson Duncan Luvuno. However, he expressed concern for the well-being of the miners who had gone without food or water for 24 hours, especially those with chronic illnesses.

While journalists were not allowed close access to the mine shaft, it was observed that the rescued miners appeared tired but in good health as they boarded buses. Meanwhile, the families of those still underground expressed shock and worry, with one woman, Mamodise Mokone, pleading for the safe return of her husband.

Sibanye, a Johannesburg-based mining company, is known for operating some of the deepest and most expensive gold mines in the world. The Kloof mine, where the incident occurred, is a significant producer of gold for Sibanye, accounting for 14% of its total output. In addition to gold, the company also mines platinum-group metals in South Africa and the United States.

Mining accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in South Africa, where abandoned mines are often taken over by informal miners. Earlier this year, a tragic incident saw 78 bodies recovered from an illegal gold mine after authorities cut off essential supplies in an effort to curb illegal mining activities.

The successful rescue operation at the Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by miners in the industry and the importance of stringent safety measures. As the remaining workers are brought to the surface and reunited with their families, the focus now shifts to investigating the cause of the accident and preventing similar incidents in the future.