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A car drives past the Sibanye Stillwater logo, as efforts continue to rescue mine workers trapped underground at one of its shafts at the Kloof gold mine, in Westonaria, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 23, 2025.
Sibanye-Stillwater has announced that operations at its Kloof gold mine in western Johannesburg will remain suspended until comprehensive safety and risk assessments are completed.
This follows an incident on Thursday that left 260 workers trapped underground.
The company confirmed that all 260 miners have since been safely brought to the surface and will undergo medical evaluations to ensure their well-being.
The incident was caused by equipment failure that led to debris falling into the main shaft, blocking the exit route for the miners.
In response to the successful rescue, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) expressed its relief.
NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mamburu stated, “The National Union of Mineworkers welcomes the resurfacing of all workers who were trapped underground. We welcome the good news that everyone is safe and healthy. And there are no fatalities and injuries.”
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Mine management reiterated that operations would only resume once the damaged shaft is declared safe and all assessments confirm that working conditions meet stringent safety standards.
