Rescue Efforts for 5 Miners Trapped in Ekapa Minerals Mine in Kimberley Intensify

• The five miners who were trapped underground in Ekapa Minerals Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, are allegedly still underground
• The miners were trapped 890 metres underground after a mudslide occurred on 17 February 2026, suspending mining operations
• The miners' condition was discussed when Mining and Minerals Minister Gwede Mantashe arrived at the scene following the incident
• Shazel Dubree-Peerbay, a Specialist Wellness Counsellor, shared her insights with Briefly News about the mine tragedy

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE— The five miners who were trapped underground in the Ekapa Minerals Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, are still underground, and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

According to News24, the miners remain underground after they had been trapped underground since 17 February 2026, when a mudslide trapped them 890 metres underground. Minister of Mining and Minerals, Gwede Mantashe, arrived at the mine and prepared to descend a shaft to where the miners were trapped.

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Department to probe mining incident

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident. Mantashe was briefed during the visit by mine management about the ongoing rescue efforts. The mine's operations remain suspended as an around-the-clock rescue effort has been launched. However, no communication with the group has been established.

Mantashe on the incident

Mantashe said that it would be unwise for speculations to be entertained at that stage. He added that the department would make sure that the material facts of the incident are established by a thorough investigation. He left the chief inspector of mines, David Msiza, on site to keep an eye on rescue operations. He added that the department's decisions on the interventions required for the rescue operations would be informed by the outcome of the investigation.

What did the mining company say?

Ekapa Minerals released a statement about the incident. The company's general manager, Howard Marsden, said that family members of the miners who are trapped have been granted access to the rescue control room, where they can watch the search plans and rescue efforts unfold in real time. Marsden revealed that four teams were deployed for the rescue efforts on the day the incident happened. Two more teams were deployed on 20 February. Efforts are concentrated on dewatering in two areas. Drilling will also be used to reach the last-known location of the workers.

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Specialist Wellness Counsellor discusses the tragedy

Shazel Dubree-Peerbay, a Specialist Wellness Counsellor, shared her insights with Briefly News about the tragedy and how the families were probably feeling.

She stated that the families were living between two realities, as they were torn between the belief that the families may still be alive and may be gone.

"Being forced socially or institutionally to choose one reality before certainty exists can create profound psychological strain. As rescue efforts continue, communication must remain transparent and compassionate. Families need consistent updates, emotional support and validation of both their hope and their grief," she said.

"In tragedies like this, the disaster does not end underground. It continues quietly in living rooms, in sleepless nights, and in the hearts of those waiting for answers. Until there is certainty, there is no true goodbye, only the heavy burden of not knowing," Dubree-Peerbay added.

Mining ranked among dangerous jobs in South Africa

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In a related article, Briefly News reported that mining was ranked among the most dangerous jobs in the country. The list includes jobs like manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.

The recent compensation claims data show that mining sat at the top of the list as the most dangerous job in the country. It is followed by the metals, manufacturing and processing sector, construction, and agriculture, particularly as agriculture practitioners face dangers from machinery, vehicles, manual labour, and chemical operations.

Source: Briefly News