KIMBERLY - It has been a week since five mine workers were trapped underground following a mudslide at the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley on 17 February.
Search and rescue operations are continuing at the mine, with teams working around the clock to reach the workers underground.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says there has been some progress.
READ | Focus on Ekapa miners' rescue - Numsa
According to Numsa representative Nkosikhona Lila, underground cameras show that water levels are decreasing as draining operations continue.
He says once the water has been fully pumped out, rescue teams will begin removing the mud in hopes of finding the miners.
However, Lila maintains that a heavy task lies ahead of this operation.
" It's a mountain to climb. They have said there is no indication that they will finish this process as soon as expected," he said.
The rising water levels and difficult drilling conditions have made the search and rescue mission near-impossible.
READ | Mining safety under scrutiny as five remain trapped at Ekapa
The incident prompted a visit lead by the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe.
According to Mantashe, it is still early days to speculate on the cause of the incident.
Mantashe has presumed the miners dead given the lengthy period they have been trapped underground.