KIMBERLEY – It has been five days since five miners have gone missing following a mudslide at Ekapa Mine, and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) rejects the conclusion that the mineworkers have died.
This comes after Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe told the media on Friday that the men are presumed dead.
Numsa insists that the focus should remain on rescue efforts until there is absolute certainty about the miners' fate.
The men became trapped nearly 900 metres below the surface following a mudslide at the mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, on Tuesday morning.
“For now, we cannot share the same sentiments with the minister, actually, until there is 100% confirmation in relation to what he's saying. So, for now, we are just hoping for the best that those workers are still alive.
“So the mine is also saying the same thing that, for now, they are only on the rescuing part, they can't confirm anything. So as NUMSA, I think we can also focus on that, on the issue of rescuing those workers.”