Remains of One of 5 Miners Trapped in Ekapa Mine Retrieved

• The South African Police Service said that the bodies of one of the miners who are trapped underground at the Ekapa Mine have been recovered
• The miners were trapped almost 1000 metres underground after a mudslide occurred at the mine, which is located in the Northern Cape
• Despite a rescue effort, Gwede Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, suspected that the miners were deceased

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 South African Police Service confirmed that remains of one of the miners who were trapped almost 1,000 metres below the Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, were retrieved on 9 March 2026. This was after a rescue effort was mounted by the South African government and the mine.

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The miners were trapped on 17 February after a landslide. The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, visited the mine days after the landslide and suspected that they had died. This was after the miners were trapped in Tunnel 6 after the mudslide.

What happened after the mudslide?

The mine activated its emergency protocols and undertook a coordinated search and rescue operation. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources launched a probe, and Mantashe visited the mine on 20 February, three days after the mudslide occurred.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) received a briefing from the Department, which it slammed for excluding it from certain briefings. NUMSA's Nkosikhona Lila raised concerns about conditions in the mining sector of Kimberley and pointed out that employees have been subjected to layoffs, some of whom were dismissed for resisting the changes.

Mantashe said in a response to questions in Parliament on 3 March that he believed that the miners were no longer alive. He pointed out that mud and stones had been cleared from the east and west of the affected shagt up to a distance of 74 metres. Mantashe added, however, that people should not have false hope that this would mean that any of the miners would be found alive.

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What did South Africans say?

Netizens were heartbroken, and others asked questions about the remaining miners trapped underground.

Ndabezitha Sir-George said:

"At least we will find closure."

Jeff Petro Ntshwane remarked:

"We are still waiting for those trapped at Barberton Lilly Mine."

Sello Kekana said:

"So it's possible to retrieve, but they couldn't retrieve the poor miners at the Lily Mine."

Nkotwane Jimmy Malaka added:

"You risk your life and earn peanuts for some mines while your big bosses are enjoying the benefits of your hard work!"

Victor Vusi Ndazamo observed:

"We always pray for safe shifts daily. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong. Rest in perfect peace, brothers."

Families of trapped miners have hope

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the family members of the miners trapped at Ekapa Mine said they were not giving up hope. They believed that their relatives were still alive.

The family members slammed the mine for not contacting them and providing them with updates. Another relative said they have spent a lot of sleepless nights crying for their loved ones.

Source: Briefly News