All 260 miners trapped underground at the Kloof-seven shaft in South Africa’s Gauteng province have been safely evacuated, following a mechanical malfunction that temporarily disrupted mining operations at one of Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold facilities.
The incident, which occurred late Thursday, was linked to a technical fault in the shaft’s rock winder system. According to the company, a skip door unexpectedly opened at the level 39 loading station, cutting access to deeper sections of the mine including levels 40, 41 and below. As a result, miners working in the lower zones were unable to return to the surface.
Sibanye-Stillwater confirmed in a statement on Friday that no injuries were recorded, and that all workers were accounted for and safely returned to surface by the evening. The first group emerged at 13:30 CAT (11:30 GMT), while the remainder were brought up in stages, with the final group exiting by 19:30 CAT.
“At no point was there any risk to life. All affected employees remained in designated safe zones while teams above conducted thorough safety inspections and repairs to the shaft system,” the company said.
Rather than initiate lengthy underground evacuations through escape routes, the company chose to stabilize the main shaft and use it for recovery. The strategy, according to officials, allowed for a safer and less physically taxing exit for miners.
Emergency response units and safety teams were deployed shortly after the fault was identified. During their time underground, miners were provided with food, water, and constant communication. Sibanye-Stillwater also confirmed that all workers will be offered medical screenings as a precaution, with support extended to families.
Chief Executive Neal Froneman stressed that operations at the affected shaft will not resume until comprehensive risk assessments and remedial work are completed. “We will only recommence activities once it is absolutely safe to do so. Our employees’ wellbeing remains the core of every decision we take,” he said.
The rescue has once again brought attention to safety standards in South Africa’s mining industry, one of the most labour-intensive sectors in the continent. Sibanye-Stillwater said it will continue reviewing its protocols to prevent such disruptions in the future.