Search for trapped miner resumes
A North West miner has not yet been located, over a week since he went missing after a rock fall incident at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited’s (Implats) Rustenburg operation.
Rock drill operator, Ohemile Moses Maamogwa, 55, went missing underground following rock fall at Implats’ 1 Shaft in Meriting near Rustenburg on May 17.
Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said efforts to find him were continuing around the clock, tunneling into the area where he was last seen.
“Unfortunately we have not been able to locate him yet,” Theron said.
He was trapped underground with fellow rock drill operator Tanki Samuel Lepitikoe, 40. Seven others mineworkers escaped the rock fall unharmed.
Lepitikoe’s body was found on Thursday in an area with an unstable ground conditions. His body was brought to surface on Friday. He was from Lesotho.
In January four mineworkers died at Implats’ 14 Shaft in Luka outside Rustenburg when a fire broke out underground.
Mining operations at Implats’ 1 Shaft have been suspended as the search for Maamogwa continues.