All 260 trapped workers at Kloof Mine rescued safely
The incident was caused by a malfunction in the skip door of the rock winder at the level 39 loading point, which impacted levels 40, 41, and below. While the mechanical failure disrupted normal operations, the company emphasized that there was no immediate risk of injury to personnel, Carletonville Herald reports.
Following thorough safety inspections and shaft integrity assessments, the rescue began in phases. The first group of employees surfaced around 13:30 on Friday, with the final group returning safely by 19:30.
'To ensure worker safety, employees remained at their underground stations instead of using emergency escape routes, which would have involved lengthy walking distances,' said James Wellsted, Sibanye-Stillwater's spokesperson. 'Rescue teams ensured they had access to food, water, and medical support.'
All affected employees will undergo medical evaluations, and support is being extended to their families. The company is actively engaging with the Chief Inspector of Mines, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and relevant trade unions to determine the next steps.
Operations at the Kloof 7 shaft will remain suspended until all remedial actions are completed and the site is confirmed safe for work.
'Safety remains our core priority, and we will not resume operations until we are confident all risks have been addressed,' said Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater. 'I commend our management, mine rescue, and medical teams for their commitment in bringing our colleagues home safely.'
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
R3. 3m awarded to municipal manager amid VBS corruption scandal
The West Rand District Municipality must pay its former municipal manager R3.3 million for terminating his contract despite him facing corruption charges of unlawfully investing R347m of its funds with the VBS Mutual Bank. Image: West Rand District Municipality / Facebook Former West Rand District municipal manager Moroashike Mokoena is set to be paid nearly R3.3 million by the municipality for terminating his contract while facing corruption charges of unlawfully investing R347m with the VBS Mutual Bank. Mokoena, 64, along with former chief financial officer (CFO) Romeo Mohaudi and erstwhile income and expenditure manager Mzwandile Mkhize, were arrested in June 2021 by the Hawks. Mokoena faces charges of authorising the municipality to invest more than R347m with the now defunct financial institution and the approval of various investment policies from time to time in contravention of the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA). At the time, the Hawks stated that Mohaudi caused R50m to be invested with VBS in contravention of the MFMA and the investment policy adopted by the Merafong Local Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The elaborate scheme saw the senior managers allegedly facilitating the investments and receiving corrupt gratifications from VBS officials through motor vehicle finance and mortgage bond facilities, as well as several other payments. Mokoena and the other former officials were later released on R50,000 bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the case will return to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, next month for the continuation of the trial. Earlier, the West Rand District Municipality had, through an October 2019 council resolution, suspended Mokoena for three months based on how he managed the appointment process for the CFO. In December 2019, an investigation commissioned by the municipality recommended that Mokoena face disciplinary action should it be established that his contract has not lapsed. The following month, the municipality informed Mokoena that his appointment had lapsed in terms of the Municipal Systems Act after accusing him of failing to sign his performance agreement within 60 days, and as a consequence, there was no valid and binding contract of employment. Mokoena then referred an unfair dismissal dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, and a certificate of outcome certifying the matter as unresolved was issued. He then approached the Labour Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to review and set aside the council resolution and to declare the termination of employment invalid. The Labour Court found that the municipality's letter informing Mokoena that his contract, which ran from December 2016 to November 2021, had lapsed was based on an incorrect interpretation of the law and facts. 'The applicant's (Mokoena's) contract of employment did not lapse as alleged. His contract of employment was therefore terminated by the first respondent (municipality), and that act of termination was invalid. Accordingly, the applicant's contract of employment remained extant (in existence) and he is therefore entitled to his declaratory relief,' Judge Molatelo Makhura ruled last month. The judge said that in the event that Mokoena's appointment lapsed, the municipality was duty-bound to allow him to show good cause, but failed to do so. Judge Makhura stated that he could not order Mokoena to resume his duties, and the municipality cannot be ordered to permit him to resume his duties because the fixed period has expired. He said the appropriate relief was the payment of Mokoena's remuneration for the remainder of his contract, between January 17, 2020 and November, 30 2021, which is an amount of just above R3.28m. 'The termination of the applicant's fixed-term contract of employment on January 17, 2020 is hereby declared invalid and/or void ab initio (from the beginning). 'It is declared that the fixed-term contract of employment between the applicant (Mokoena) and the first respondent (West Rand District Municipality) remained extant (in existence) and the applicant remained the first respondent's employee and municipal manager until 30 November 2021,' ordered Judge Makhura. Mokoena's successor as municipal manager, Elias Koloi, said he was on leave and undertook to delegate another official to respond, but no response was forthcoming. Abner Mabaso, Mokoena's legal representative, referred questions to the municipality.
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Joburg mayor Dada Morero reshuffles his mayoral committee
City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has appointed Loyiso Masuku as the new member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Finance. Masuku, who was the MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, replaces Margaret Arnolds, who was recently elected as Speaker of Council. Morero also appointed Sithembiso Zungu, who served as chief whip as the new MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services. The appointments were effective from Wednesday, 6 August. According to reports, Khazamula Chauke, also from the ANC, will be nominated by the party to replace Zungu as chief whip of the council, with Joseph Mofokeng as deputy chief whip at a future council sitting. The metro municipality said these appointments are crucial as it seeks to strengthen financial governance, uphold fiscal discipline, and enhance revenue collection to serve its residents better. 'The executive mayor believes that the leadership, experience, and commitment to public service demonstrated by these appointees will significantly contribute to the success of the administration's service delivery agenda, facilitating the implementation of the city's turnaround plan as we collectively work towards building the Johannesburg we envision,' the municipality said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Beware of online car auction scams targeting South Africans
Sonja Styger Image: Supplied As the digital marketplace grows, so do the deceptive tactics of criminals looking to exploit unwary South Africans searching for bargain car deals. A concerning trend has emerged where scammers clone the websites and advertisements of recognised auctioneers and banks, tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying hefty deposits for non-existent vehicles. The South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) has issued a dire warning for potential car buyers to exercise extreme caution when navigating online platforms. They emphasised the importance of utilising official company portals rather than relying on social media platforms that could lead them straight into the arms of fraudsters. Sonja Styger, Chief Administration Officer at SAIA, said these scams predominantly thrive on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. 'Cars advertised well below market value are enticingly 'reserved' for buyers willing to pay upfront,' she explained. However, it's crucial for buyers to remember that South African law prohibits selling auction assets at fixed prices. In many instances, these so-called sellers offer vehicles at predetermined prices, pressing potential buyers to pay a deposit to avoid losing the car to auction. 'It's a blatant red flag,' Styger warned. 'Scamsters know the general public may not understand how auctions work, and they capitalise on that ignorance. An auction doesn't have a fixed price—the highest bid when the hammer falls determines the price.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The deceptive nature of these scams extends beyond auctioneers. Even top vehicle finance providers in South Africa are being impersonated, creating fake accounts on platforms like TikTok and Facebook. These accounts use stolen branding to offer repossessed vehicles at knockdown prices. Buyers often find themselves asked to pay a 'reservation' fee to secure the car before it supposedly goes to auction. What makes these scams particularly insidious is their sophistication. Fraudsters mimic the communications and logos of legitimate companies with alarming precision, making it difficult for many individuals to discern the real from the fake. Here are some clear warning signs to watch out for: Fixed pricing: Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Auctions must adhere to South African auction law; fixed pricing for auction vehicles is illegal. Payments through informal channels: Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Watch out for requests for payment via WhatsApp or direct bank transfers. Always opt for secure, verified platforms. Lack of verification: A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. A reputable auctioneer will have a verifiable company registration and physical address. Poor ad quality: Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. Be cautious of poorly written advertisements with vague vehicle details. No refundable deposits: Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Genuine auctions, registered with SAIA, require a deposit for participation but never to secure a specific car in advance. Inspection: Always view the vehicle beforehand. Never transfer money unless you're fully satisfied with its condition. To mitigate the risk of falling victim to these scams, SAIA urges consumers to rely on SAIA-registered auctioneers and check credentials before engaging. They maintain a verified list of trusted members on their website at along with contact details to help verify any social media listing or auction advertisement. 'If a buyer is unsure about an advert or auctioneer, take five minutes to contact us for verification,' advised Styger. 'Trust your instincts. If something feels unsettling, it's better to miss a great deal than to lose your savings to a scam that was never real to begin with.'
