On Monday afternoon, approximately 100 miners from Impala Platinum (Implats) were involved in an accident in Rustenburg, North West Province.
Emergency teams were deployed to assist in bringing the miners back up to the surface. While some workers have sustained injuries, the exact details are still unclear.
The accident occurred due to a winder rope malfunction connected to the personnel conveyance, which is responsible for hoisting employees up and down the shaft. The conveyance consists of three levels, each with a capacity to carry 35 personnel.
Implats spokesperson, Johan Theron, stated that initial reports suggest there have been several serious injuries. However, due to the complexity of the rescue operation, an accurate assessment of the full human impact is not currently possible.
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Paramedics and the mine’s proto teams were immediately mobilized to provide medical assistance. Theron provided an evening update, stating that the rescue teams have accessed the underground workings and cleared the two upper levels of the conveyance. The focus now lies on vacating the lower level.
Theron emphasized that the safety of the employees is of utmost importance to the company. Implats is providing all possible support to those involved in the accident and remains dedicated to ensuring the safe return of their colleagues.
