Lily Mine Collapse: Recovery operation suspended
The search and rescue mission at the Lily Mine near Barberton in Mpumalanga suffered another setback, when the underground situation was declared unsafe for rescue operations to resume.
The Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, visited the mine on Sunday and said alternatives are being investigated.
His office said he was expecting an update this week.
Lily Mine spokesperson Coetzee Zietsman confirmed that the search and rescue operation has been suspended indefinitely.
"Our safety experts went down into the mine after we opened the second emergency escape shaft and informed us that the ground is way too unstable, we can't start digging there," he said.
The possibility of further rock falls remains, making it unsafe for rescue workers to continue with the recovery operation.
Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda have been trapped underground since the lamp room they were in disappeared in a ground fall on February 5.
Coetzee said Minister Zwane visited with the three workers' families, who remain camped outside the mine waiting for news of their loved ones.
They were also briefed on the latest developments by mine management.
"The minister understands the complexity of the situation that we are dealing with and together we are all trying to find a solution and move forward," Zietsman said.
Meanwhile, Zietsman denied reports that the mine ignored safety warnings, saying Lily Mine was known as one of the safest gold mines in South Africa.
"As recently as October, a full safety audit was done on the mine and the crown pillar that gave way was specifically one of the things that were checked and signed off," he said.
Edited by Faith Daniels