Latest news with #JamesWellsted
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
All 260 trapped workers at Kloof Mine rescued safely
Sibanye-Stillwater has confirmed that all 260 mine workers trapped underground at its Kloof 7 shaft in Gauteng have been brought safely to the surface following a shaft incident that occurred on Thursday. 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Trapped miners located, safe and have food – Sibanye-Stillwater
Sibanye-Stillwater says the hundreds of trapped mineworkers at its Kloof 7 sub-shaft – near Randfontein and Westonaria – have been located and will be brought up to the surface. Randfontein Herald reports that, in a statement issued by the executive vice president for investor relations and corporate affairs at Sibanye-Stillwater, James Wellsted, the miners were trapped as a result of an incident that occurred at the shaft yesterday. 'All 260 employees have been accounted for, are safe and have been provided with food,' the statement by Wellsted read. 'We are actively implementing our safety and shaft examination procedures. Once these are completed, we will begin hoisting employees to the surface. Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees should remain at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to proceed to the surface, to avoid walking long distances at this time.' Wellsted said that initial investigations show that the Kloof 7 sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point on level 39, impacting levels 40 and 41 below this point. 'The open door of the skip caused some damage at level 35, and the work to make this safe has been completed.' 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
