They’ve been trapped for more than a month since a mud rush occurred 890m underground. The body of one miner was recovered on Monday, 9 March, when Northern Cape police launched an inquest.

The mine said challenging underground conditions continue to hamper operations, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach and recover the remaining miners.

The diamond mine has been closed since Wednesday, 25 February, following an application for liquidation. All stakeholders’ best interests were taken into consideration, the company said.

The shutdown was justified by operational, budgetary, and safety considerations, and the decision was not made hastily, it added.

“There's lots of mud still left up to the roof of the tunnels, and what's happening is the transport distance back to get it out of the mine (is a problem),” said Mine Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie.

“We’re trying to create space where we can pack this mud so that we can speed up the process. With mining, you never know what's going to be thrown towards you tomorrow.

“We didn't anticipate (all these factors) getting underground, and that's making us halt every now and then to deal with this and then to move forward. So yes, it is our priority as well to get back there as quickly as possible,” he said.

During a media briefing, general manager Howard Marsden detailed the scale of the rescue operation underway at the shaft. The force of the mud rush was so severe that the trucks found underground were in pieces.

“There were 60 people underground at the time of the mud rush,” said Marsden. “The trapped miners were employed through contractors for specialist drilling and mechanised mining.”

Recovery teams have pumped more than 37,500m³ of water from the shaft, completed 233m of life-support drilling, and removed nearly a thousand scoops of mud and debris from the affected area, he said.

Meanwhile, a community-led relief initiative is gearing up to host a fundraising drive in Kimberley to help ease the growing impact of the Ekapa Minerals closure on hundreds of families.

The Ekapa Relief Fund aims to support affected families through food assistance and fundraising efforts. The fundraising event on Saturday, 11 April, at the Kimberley Rugby Club will serve as both a lifeline for those in need and a platform to unite the community in support of struggling households, said the organisers.

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 OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm