KIMBERLEY - As Ekapa Mine moves towards liquidation citing issues financial conditions, families of miners who remain trapped underground still need to consider the cultural implications of not recovering their bodies.
On Wednesday the mine in Kimberley announced that it would be shutting down operations with immediate effect.
This as it concluded that continuing to operate the business as a mining and processing company was no longer viable.
READ | Missing Ekapa miners left behind as company shuts down
Cultural expert Mlawu Tyatyeka explained to eNCA that the recovery of the bodies will not only provide closure to the family but it holds great cultural significance.
“I am sure the mine is only looking at the costs behind recovering the bodies but they do not know the cultural significance.
“In African culture, a person’s life is in their bones which is why when someone passes away the deceased family says all they want is their remains. It is these very same remains one can speak to, not the flesh, not the spirit, but their bones.
“A person’s bones represent their true nature. Which is why it is important for people to be buried at their homes. So that when something goes wrong the family is able to speak to them,” Tyatyeka said.
The company through assessment found that they could not continue to meet its financial obligations given the prolonged global diamond market downturn, exacerbated by the recent tragic incident.
On 17 February, a water flood and mud rush occurred at the mine.
Water, mud and rock inundated the newly developed underground area within minutes leaving five miners trapped.
READ | Hope fading for trapped eKapa mineworkers' families
According to the mine life-support drilling was completed into the three areas where the miners were reported to be working shortly before the incident.
“These efforts confirmed that the tunnels were fully flooded with mud and water, with no indication of survivable conditions,” the statement read.
The mine also revealed that down-hole camera inspections likewise showed no signs of life.
READ| Ekapa mine disaster |Cameras show water levels underground subsiding
But still the search and rescue operation continue.
Tyateka said if the search yields to no success, with the family having sought out all avenues to retrieve the trapped miners, they will have to once again consult the cultural route once again.
“The family will have to go back to the site and appease them saying they have not left them. They have consulted all avenues to no success but they have not abandoned them,” Tyateka said.