According to Sibanye-Stillwater’s spokesperson, Mr James Wellsted, two members of its mine rescue teams, also known as the proto teams, died on the evening of Sunday, 19 September while conducting search operations for an employee at Kloof Mine’s Thuthukani Shaft.
The employee was reported missing on Sunday morning when he did not return to the station with his team. The team had completed planned routine repairs on haulage close to the shaft station.
“It is still not clear what happened. It is only about 15 minutes down to the haulage from the shaft station. The foreman started falling behind when he and his assistant were walking back to the station. He told the assistant to go ahead, saying he would follow,” says Wellsted.
When the foreman did not arrive at the station, the assistant went back to check where he was, but only found his equipment. He called for help and the mine sent in four proto teams to look for him.
According to Wellsted, members of the one proto team went down at a raised line and soon realised that it was extremely hot. The foreman went missing about three and a half kilometres underground in an area that is not currently being actively mined.
Based on the information available, one of the proto team members was severely affected by the high temperatures. Another member of the team opted to stay with him while the four others went to get help. By the time they returned, both had sadly been overcome by the intense heat.
Although Sibanye-Stillwater did not officially name the deceased proto team members, friends and family identified them on social media as the well-loved and res- pected Carletonville residents, George Kolbe and Leon Peacock.
“The board and management of Sibanye-Stillwater extend their sincere condolences to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased employees and those impacted by this devastating loss of life,” Wellsted says.
Tributes also poured in on social media for the two brave men who died while trying to find and save their colleague.
By midday on Wednesday, the missing foreman, who is still unidentified, had not yet been found.
“The search for the missing employee continues. Further details will be provided as soon as possible. The cause of these incidents will be investigated once the search and rescue operation has been com- pleted,” says Wellsted.
“This kind of disappearance is very unusual and we are looking into all possibilities,” he told the Herald.
The tragedy cast the spotlight on the altruistic work of the proto team members.
“Not many people know that they are volunteers who get only a small retainer. The work they do is often extremely dangerous,” says Ms Benita Oosthuizen of Mines Rescue Services.
