Sibanye Workers Begin To Surface After Accident At South African Gold Mine

Nearly a 3rd of nan 260 miners stuck underground pursuing an mishap astatine a Sibanye-Stillwater SSWJ.J golden excavation in South Africa were brought to nan aboveground connected Friday, nan institution said, arsenic a elder national charismatic confirmed location had been nary injuries.

The miners were stuck underground aft nan hoist strategy utilized to entree a shaft astatine nan Kloof golden excavation - 1 of Sibanye's deepest, situated astir 37 miles west of Johannesburg - was damaged successful an mishap connected Thursday.

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Sibanye said 79 of nan labor had been brought to nan aboveground by 1:30 p.m. section clip successful nan first shape of an cognition to extract nan miners.

"The remaining 181 labor ... person been provided pinch nutrient and will beryllium hoisted to aboveground arsenic soon arsenic information to hoist is confirmed," Sibanye said successful a statement.

A institution spokesperson told Reuters precocious Friday day that nan process was expected to beryllium completed "soon."

Mamodise Mokone, whose hubby is among nan miners still trapped underground, reacts arsenic she speaks to nan media astatine nan Sibanye Stillwater mine, successful Westonaria, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 23, 2025.  (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

"Fortunately location were nary fatalities aliases injuries," National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Health and Safety Chairperson Duncan Luvuno told journalists astatine nan site. "But for ... 24 hours group were not eating aliases drinking anything. This is not adequate. Some person chronic diseases."

Journalists were barred by information guards from getting adjacent to nan excavation shaft, but a Reuters newsman saw immoderate of nan miners, looking tired but successful bully health, locomotion to nan perimeter of nan institution grounds and committee buses.

Relatives of those still successful nan mine, however, expressed daze and interest that their loved ones remained underground.

"I haven't slept a wink," said Mamodise Mokone, whose hubby was among nan miners. "I conscionable want to show nan guidance aliases whoever is successful charge: I conscionable want my hubby retired alive."

Sibanye earlier said each nan workers were safe aft what it called a "shaft incident" successful nan Kloof 7 shaft and were gathered astatine an assembly constituent arsenic efforts were launched to bring them retired of nan mine.

Johannesburg-based Sibanye is among only a fewer South African miners squeezing profits from immoderate of nan world's deepest and costliest golden mines. Sibanye is digging for golden astatine depths of astir 2 miles astatine nan Kloof 7 shaft.

The Kloof mine, which accounts for 14% of Sibanye's full golden output, besides operates 2 different shafts. The institution mines platinum-group metals successful South Africa and the United States arsenic well.

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Mining accidents are not uncommon successful South Africa, wherever galore abandoned mines person been taken complete by informal diggers.

Earlier this year, astatine slightest 78 bodies were pulled from an forbidden golden excavation aft constabulary trim disconnected nutrient and h2o supplies for months successful an effort to ace down connected forbidden mining activity.