Last illegal miner brought to surface at Sabie mine

All the illegal miners who were allegedly trapped underground at an abandoned mine in Sabie, Mpumalanga have been brought to the surface. The last illegal miner was brought to the surface just after 7pm.

More than 150 illegal miners have been brought to ground level since Thursday. Three bodies were retrieved on the first day of the operation.

Members of the South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force and private rescue teams worked around the clock to bring to surface all the illegal miners.

Emergency personnel provided the illegal miners medical assistance and Home Affairs officials processed them before they were whisked off to police holding cells.

The illegal miners claimed armed men forced them into the shaft.

Provincial police spokesperson Donald Mdluli says they will now collect evidence before the shaft is closed.

“They will still finalise the other things, remember there were some items that are believed to be down there. So, we’ve got our operatives here that are going to continue before everything can be shut. We know what we have been looking for besides the alleged illegal miners that have been brought to the surface.”

VIDEO|  The last man celebrates after being brought to the surface. 

VIDEO | Mining engineer Dr Adwoa Boaduo says some of biggest risk with illegal mining is the lack of structural support and ground instability. 

Meanwhile, the residents of New Village in Sabie are calling for the removal of foreign nationals in their community. They accuse the foreign nationals especially Basotho, of randomly discharging their firearms at night.

One of the residents, Ephraim Rasolomane says the conduct of foreign nationals in their community is worrisome.

“As residents I wouldn’t say we are leaving in constant fear but then the thought of them, each and every minute, they discharge their firearms especially the Basotho nationals. These are the ones who are actually discharging their firearms because they would shoot randomly around five in the evening and also 2am in the morning.”