Contractors testify Lily Mine ignored instability warnings
Mr Ales Maneja, a former excavator operator on the mine, said workers had continuously raised concerns with mine management about the stability of the ground, but it did not listen to them.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/NJO_2076.jpg)
MBOMBELA – Fresh details about what could have led to the collapse in Lily Mine in February 5, 2016, opened new wounds in the hearts of the families of the three trapped miners this week.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/IMG_4692-800x533.jpg)
Also read: New operation to recover buried container to commence soon
Mr Ales Maneja, a former excavator operator on the mine, said workers had continuously raised concerns with mine management about the stability of the ground, but it did not listen to them.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/IMG_5459-800x533.jpg)
Also read: Lily miners recount collapse
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/lily-1-800x533.jpg)
Vantage Goldfields started mining at Lily with an open-pit operation.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/NJO_2091-800x533.jpg)
Also read: Illegal mining was rife months before Lily collapse
Maneja said on the day of the collapse, Nyerenda called him from inside the container but he was too busy.
“A few seconds after that I heard a big sound and the container he was in disappeared into the sinkhole,” he said.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/Vantage-Goldfields-CEO-Mr-Mark-McChesney-800x533.jpg)
On Tuesday, Vantage Goldfields CEO, Mr Mark McChesney, testified that its internal investigations revealed that illegal mining was rife in the mine a few months before the collapse.
McChesney said their continuous assessments about the mine safety were satisfactory.
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“In 2015, illegal mining was on the rise. We engaged with our security company to understand if indeed this was true and whether they were involved. They could not provide answers to that and that is when we conducted our investigations,” he said.
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“We suspect that the mine didn’t adhere to rules to leave 5,8 metres between the pillar and the surface,” he said.
Spoor alleged that the mine could have carved out the mine pillar because it was believed to contain a lot of gold.
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His assertion that the ground could have been waterlogged and become unstable was supported by the mine’s former rock mechanic consultant, Mr Rudi Kirsten. According to his testimony, read out in his absence, his specific concern was the crown pillar.
“I reported to them that the area between the pillar and floor was unstable because of water. I recommended the pumping of water from the ground,” his statement said.
He never heard from mine and did not know if it did implement the recommendations.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2017/03/Lily-Mine.jpg)