The recovery of all five mineworkers trapped in the Ekapa mine in Kimberley has brought a measure of closure to grieving families. Still, it has also intensified calls for accountability across South Africa’s mining sector.

An investigation is now underway into the cause of a mudslide that killed five mineworkers in Kimberley. The miners were trapped 890m underground after a mudslide last month.

Kimberley detectives are investigating an inquest after the bodies of the last two men were recovered from the mine on Monday (23/3).

‘Workers have been brought to the surface; accountability must follow’

“We are grateful that the workers have finally been brought home and that their families can now lay them to rest with dignity,” said Mathunjwa. “But gratitude does not replace accountability.

“You cannot recover bodies and then move on as if nothing happened. Workers have been brought to the surface; accountability must follow them there.” Ekapa must not become another example of delayed accountability and unresolved injustice, he said.

Mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe visited the site following the final recovery and has called for a full investigation. “The information we have, is that they have informed the families.

“There will be positive identification, and the government will help with the funerals of the miners. I assume  health and safety, and the police will be involved in conducting DNA tests, post-mortem, so that you can identify those people as the right people.”

Meanwhile, the metalworkers’ union Numsa in Kimberley has called for the immediate arrest of the CEO of Ekapa Minerals.

“We urgently request that the investigation process start now, and then the CEO must also be urgently arrested because this is a crime scene,” said Numsa Kimberley organiser Lerato Mohatlane. “We can no longer call it a mine.”

The mine closed on Wednesday, February 25, with immediate effect after submitting an application for liquidation.

It stated that all stakeholders' best interests were taken into consideration and that the decision was not made hastily. The reasons given were operational, budgetary, and safety-related.

Due to the liquidation, over a thousand employees have lost their employment and have not received their February salaries. Until Friday, April 17, when the High Court in Kimberley continues its legal proceedings, the mine will be under provisional liquidation.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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