WATCH: The latest from Lily Mine
It will take about two weeks before rescue operations can continue at the Lily Mine outside Baberton in Mpumalanga.
This statement was made by mine management, the Miniter of Mineral Resources Mosenebzi Zwane and Amcu President, Joseph Mathunjwa last night.
The delegation briefed the media infront of the collapsed mine's gates late last night, explaning that the safety of the operation had to be enusred before they could go ahead.
CEO Mike McCheasney said they were bringing in machinery similar to that used in the Chilean mine collapse a few years ago, to dril a 600mm wide hole, 80m deep.
The machinery was expected to arrive later on Thursday where after drilling will commence as soon as possibile.
"The primary concern is to ensure the safety of the teams going underground," Mike McCheasney said.
Neither McCheasney or Mining minister Mosebenzi Zwane would elaborate much on the chances of survival or whether this has now become a recovery operation, but the minister did highlight was their frank discussions with the families about this delay and what it could mean, and their efforts to assist them.