Gwede Mantashe Says Five Ekapa Minerals Mine Workers Should Be Presumed Dead Following Mudslide

• Gwede Mantashe has provided an update about the clean-up operations at the Ekapa Minerals Mine in Kimberly following a mudslide
• Five mineworkers were trapped approximately 890 metres underground in Tunnel 6 at the Northern Cape mine's Joint Shaft
• The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources also discussed the plans to liquidate the mine following the incident

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

NORTHERN CAPE – Gwede Mantashe believes that the five miners trapped at the Ekapa Minerals Mine in Kimberly should be presumed dead.

Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, made the comments while responding to questions in Parliament on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. Mantashe was questioned about the mop-up and rescue operations at the mine following a mudslide at the mine on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.

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The disaster happened at the mine's Joint Shaft, leaving five mineworkers trapped approximately 890 metres underground in Tunnel 6.

Mantashe says miners should be presumed dead

Speaking about the operations at the mine, Mantashe confirmed that mud and stones had been cleared from the east and west of the affected shaft up to a distance of 74 metres.

The minister added that people should not have false hope that the mud-clearing efforts would result in anybody still being found alive.

"Unfortunately, nobody has been discovered. That is why I’ve insisted that we do what is called in law, presumption of death, rather than promising life where there’s no likelihood of life,” he said.

He added that mudslides were not like rockfalls, where people could still be trapped behind the rocks, but were still alive.

He also indicated that he would be visiting the mine for a third time soon, to follow up on clean-up operations at the scene.

Mantashe is concerned by the mine’s liquidation plans

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The minister also expressed shock at the plans to liquidate the mine following the incident. Over 1,000 workers were left jobless, and their salaries were not paid after the mine was put under liquidation.

Mantashe indicated that he would make his own follow-up about the situation during his next visit.

"The lack of payment of salaries, that’s a union matter. That is not a government matter. We said that they must meet the union, and they did. I don’t know if they’ve had a follow-up,” he stated.

Mining ranked among most dangerous jobs in South Africa

In a related article, Briefly News also reported that mining was ranked among the most dangerous jobs in the country.

The recent compensation claims data show that mining sat at the top of the list, followed by the metals, manufacturing and processing sector.

Mining tops the risk list, recording 24,568 claims in 2024, while metals manufacturing and processing and construction also carry high injury rates.

Source: Briefly News