Six trapped workers die at Limpopo mine
Six mineworkers have died after being trapped underground at the Palabora Copper Mine in Limpopo.
A fire broke out underground at its conveyer belt during the early hours of Sunday morning.
"In the early hours of Sunday, a conveyer belt underground caught fire. Most of the colleagues that were on duty were rescued and six were trapped. We did everything in our power. We had teams working throughout the night," says the mine's Lydia Radebe.
The Department of Mineral Resources and various mining stakeholders are investigating the circumstances that led to the fire.
According to Radebe, operations at the mine have been halted.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers expressed its shock following the deaths.
"The NUM is reliably informed that the cause of the fire was as a result of the high temperature underground," says NUM Health and Safety Chairperson, Duncan Luvuno.
Luvuno demanded that government "play its role in ensuring that mines are safe and put the safety of the mineworkers as a priority".