Search for trapped Roodepoort illegal miners paused
The operation to rescue two suspected illegal miners trapped at a disused Roodepoort mine, on the west rand, has been halted for the day.
On Monday, emergency personnel, including a team from the expert Mine Rescue Services, resumed the search at the Rand Lease mine after they were alerted to screams from an abandoned shaft.
It's alleged the men became trapped when the makeshift pulley system they used to lower themselves into the shaft broke.
Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson said they prioritised the safety of rescuers during the operation.
“We reached a makeshift platform where there’s a hole which leads to makeshift stairs. That area is actually dangerous for the rescuers, hence the decision to terminate the operation.
Earlier, Mulaudzi said screams from the shaft could no longer be heard on Sunday.
“Yesterday when we were here, we could hear the screams, but with the 23 years of service that I have tells me that the voices may not be coming straight down from the shaft itself. It may be 200–300 meters away from the shaft.
“Right now, we are not able to hear any of those voices. Maybe it’s because of tiredness,” Mulaudzi added.
Authorities said they started noticing oxygen deficiencies as they attempted to go deeper into the shaft.
NO TIMELINES SET TO RESUME SEARCH
Mulaudzi said they would rely on information from community members to assist them in finding an alternative entrance to where the men are trapped.
The mine was rehabilitated but was reportedly forced open by illegal miners.
He said those who were willing to assist with information may be fearful of outing those behind the alleged criminal activities, therefore authorities devised ways for them to do so anonymously.
“According to the map we have, we don’t have any other access, but according to community intelligence, there is another area which may be linked to this area. It’s just that the community members are not sure of their safety.
“We don’t have a time, but that will be determined by the information we get from the community in terms of which areas we’ll be able to explore.” Mulaudzi said.
This latest incident comes as North West authorities repeated calls for those who may be related to the nearly 80 deceased illegal miners, retrieved during a government-led operation at the Stilfontein Mine, to come forward and claim their bodies.
READ MORE: ID process of Stilfontein illegal miners ‘far from over’
“Members of the public and the community who do not know where their next of kin are, and they know or suspect that they were working in and around Khuma / Stilfontein as zama zamas and have not seen or heard from them for some time, to please get into contact with the investigation team at Stilfontein Police Station on Thursday, 13 and Friday, 14 February 2025, between 8 am and 3 pm,” said North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone.
According to the provincial police, 18 DNA samples had been collected from relatives since the beginning of the identification process.
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