Emergency teams playing it safe during rescue operation to retrieve 2 zama zamas from abandoned Roodepoort shaft
While the mining experts say it's a race against time to rescue the illegal miners stuck underground at the Rand Leases gold mine, emergency personnel on-site say they are not leaving anything to chance when it comes to safety.
A mine rescue team carries equipment to an abandoned mine shaft in Roodepoort where an operation to retrieve two illegal miners from the shaft is underway on 10 February 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Emergency teams say they will carefully conduct a rescue operation to bring two illegal miners to the surface from an abandoned mine shaft in Roodepoort.
Rescue teams are yet to conduct full safety tests to decide on how to approach the operation.
There are concerns about the ground around the area as well as warnings of low oxygen levels underground.
The operation started over the weekend after it emerged that two people got stuck underground.
[In Pictures] A Rescue Operation has been halted at the Rand Lease Mine in Florida Roodepoort where it is two alleged illegal miners are trapped underground. pic.twitter.com/7OPwhyB06B
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 9, 2025
While the mining experts say it's a race against time to rescue the illegal miners stuck underground at the Rand Leases gold mine, emergency personnel on-site say they are not leaving anything to chance when it comes to safety.
Joburg Emergency Services spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, said that a lot was at stake.
"The operation is complex and challenging. It needs proper planning and coordination because you need to prevent injuries of the rescue teams and the people being rescued."
Once safety precautions are in place, a member of the technical team is expected to be hoisted down the narrow shaft for further assessments.
This includes establishing the depth of the disused shaft and the integrity of the structure.
Once the team has mapped out the shaft and determined how far down the illegal miners might be, a plan will then be put in place.
It's unclear how long the operation is expected to run.