Lily Mine saga: two years since the tragedy
Today marks two years since a shaft at the Lily Mine’s operations in Barberton collapsed, leaving more than 100 mineworkers injured and three miners trapped underground.
The entrance to Lily Mine, shortly after the sinkhole tragedy occurred.
Two years later, and the bodies of the three trapped mineworkers of the Lily Mine disaster have still not been retrieved, Mpumalanga News reports.
Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda disappeared when a lamp room container they were in fell into a sinkhole.
READ MORE: Lily Mine approaches IDC for loan to help retrieve remains of three workers
The fateful disaster that left families of the trapped miners in anguish raised various questions as to whether ancestral spirits were responsible for the incident. However, Richard Spoor of Richard Spoor Incorporation said it was very clear that a rock collapse caused the mine to cave in during an inquiry held in March last year.
Some took to social media in remembering the trapped miners.
Here are some of the tweets:
https://twitter.com/BulieeM/status/960365159008129024
#LilyMine#CountryDuty #WerememberLilyMine
2 years on & the families are yet to find closure!
😭😭😭
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) February 5, 2018
Two YEARS later the families of the #LilyMine tragedy victims do not have closure! Pretty Nkambule
Solomon Nyarenda
Yvonne Mnisi
The show goes on for everyone else because the Rand is “gaining” against major currencies. #LilyGoldMine— African (@ali_naka) February 5, 2018
#LilyMine Mathumjwa: the inquiry is finalised, people will be arrested and families must be compensated #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/KbaabMhkfh
— Tumelo Machogo 🇿🇦® (@IamTumelo) February 5, 2018
#LilyMine Zwane says the report into the inquiry will be handed to his department in the coming weeks. He doesn't give a specific date.
— malungelo booi (@malungelob) February 5, 2018
#LilyMine amcu members and former miners praying for the recovery and mine to reopen #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/xHlsNsaVLp
— Tumelo Machogo 🇿🇦® (@IamTumelo) February 5, 2018
President Joseph Mathunjwa arrives and greets the families of the three trapped mine workers #LilyMine #recoverthecontainer pic.twitter.com/70lAu8DL9P
— Amcu (@_AMCU) February 5, 2018
#LilyMine They died in the hands of Capital and "socialist" unions did nothing.
-Pretty Nkambule
-Solomon Nyarenda
-Yvonne Mnisi #WeRememberYou all.Their remains are still underground 2 years after.
— Phumudzo (@malokisa) February 5, 2018
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union will host a remembrance day outside the mine in Barberton today.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/lily-mine-approaches-idc-for-loan-to-help-retrieve-remains-of-three-workers/
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