Johannesburg – The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) is demanding “accountability” and the rescue of the 260 mineworkers trapped underground following a shaft failure at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Kloof 7 Shaft.
Describing the situation as the “latest life-threatening incident,” the union pointed to what it said was management’s failure to maintain emergency escape infrastructure, and the delayed provision of food and water.
“According to a preliminary accident report, the incident occurred at approximately 10:00 when a skip derailed into the main cage, tripping the hoisting system and damaging shaft infrastructure,” the union said.
“Workers remain stranded at 35, 39, 40, and 41 Levels, more than 3km below the surface.
“While no injuries have been reported thus far, this event yet again exposes the intolerable risks faced by mineworkers in deep-level operations.”
AMCU said it condemns management’s failure to maintain and inspect emergency escape routes, particularly at Thuthukani Shaft, which should have served as an alternate route for evacuation.
AMCU said reports show that weekly inspections were not conducted as required, and the escape route was substandard and unusable – a direct contributing factor to the prolonged entrapment of workers.
“This is not simply an operational mishap. It is a failure of duty, planning, and foresight,” said AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa.
“An emergency escape route is not a theoretical policy requirement. It is a lifeline. And in this case, it was allowed to fall into disrepair.”
The union said management reportedly began supplying food, water, cold drinks, and sanitary items only at 06:00 on Friday, (23 May 2025), nearly 20 hours after the incident.
Supplies were being delivered from sub-levels by Proto Team personnel, and communication is ongoing via emergency control rooms, AMCU said.
“This incident again raises serious questions about mine health and safety culture,” AMCU said.
“Despite recent improvements on paper, workers are still exposed to unacceptable levels of risk due to neglect and poor enforcement of protocols.”
AMCU said it was also dismayed by the delayed public disclosure of the incident.
The union said that only after media inquiries was the situation confirmed by Sibanye and the Chief Inspector of Mines.
“The lives of mineworkers are not a PR matter,” said Mathunjwa.
“We demand full transparency, urgent reform, and the amendment of the Mine Health and Safety Act to introduce real accountability.”
The Union is monitoring developments closely and remains on standby to support the affected workers and their families.
Night shift operations at the shaft have since been suspended.
“This is not an isolated incident. As of today, 32 mineworkers have died in South Africa’s mining industry in 2025 alone. Sibanye’s Kloof operations have a long and deadly track record,” AMCU said.
In October 2023, three workers died in a fall-of-ground at the Kloof 4 shaft, the union said, adding that in 2018, seven workers were killed in a seismic event at the same mine.
“These are not ‘accidents’. They are the inevitable outcomes of a system that puts production ahead of people,” Mathunjwa said.
“Until government enforces safety laws and criminalises corporate negligence, these deaths will continue.
“How many lives of breadwinners must be lost until the clarion call of AMCU to amend the Mine Health and Safety Act is adhered to?”
Mathunjwa said AMCU has called for these companies to be held accountable and liable.
“The trauma that goes to these families is unacceptable. Until these mines are held accountable, there will be no consequences,” he said.
“The blood of our members is being spilled in the dark, deep underground, as a sacrifice for the opulent life and super profits of these multinationals – a sacrifice on the altar of capitalism.”
Mathunjwa added: “All of these things happened due to the ‘rush gold hour’ and the rush to take out as much gold as possible.
“We have requested an audience with the Minister [of Mineral and Petroleum Resources], but to this day there has been no response,” he added.
“Our prayers are with those who are still trapped and the Proto Team. We have dispatched our National Health and Safety Team to the site to address this issue.”
AMCU again called for the Mine Health and Safety Act to be amended to hold mine bosses accountable for killing mineworkers.
However, reports from the mine in the late afternoon on Friday suggested that the miners had begun to surface.
