SANDF: Possibility of losing more people in bid to recover boy from mineshaft 

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has told the City of Ekurhuleni that while they have performed rescue operations across the continent, the case of the five-year-old Richard Thole, who fell down an Ekurhuleni mineshaft, was “unique”.

This information came to light on Wednesday in a statement issued by the office of the executive mayor, and posted on the City of Ekurhuleni Facebook page, after the SANDF made an official presentation to to Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina, the speaker of council, councillor Patricia Khumalo, and the city manager on Tuesday. Also present at the meeting was the boy’s parents, the department of mineral resources, Jerusalem community leaders and the ward councillor.

Young Thole fell down the mineshaft in the Jerusalem informal settlement on February 25.

In its statement, the City said: “For the past three weeks, the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, the national department of mineral resources as well as the Mine Rescue Services have tirelessly worked on rescuing Richard Thole. The tragic accident has emitted the major issue of abandoned mineshafts, the greater and urgent need of safe communities, but more notably the socioeconomic conditions which still characterise our communities.”

On March 1, the mayor requested intervention from the SANDF after he received the official report of Mine Rescue Services through the department of mineral resources, “as all options within the parameters of the City had been exhausted”.

READ MORE: Ekurhuleni mayor calls on army to help rescue boy trapped in mine

Following the SANDF’s site assessment on March 2 and heavy rainfall towards the end of that week, which caused the Mine Rescue Services to halt operations, the City said it was resolved to await the SANDF report, as the fragile land posed dangers.

READ MORE: Wet weather hampers Boksburg mineshaft rescue operation

The City said the SANDF noted in their presentation on Tuesday that they had found the Mine Rescue Services’ report and equipment was the “best across the continent” and sufficient evidence was provided by the report that in an attempt to recover the body, there was a possibility of losing more people. The SANDF said this was because going further down the shaft posed a greater risk of the ground caving in. Weather patterns such as sporadic heavy rains, were identified as impacting the stability of the surrounding soil, the City stated.

The City further stated that the SANDF had tasked the research and development staff officers to engage with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and industry to investigate new technologies to address incidents that may occur in the future.

Given the report, the City said the mayor has proposed continued counselling from the City and a memorial service for Thole to the young boy’s family. Further, the City proposed that all mining sinkholes be cordoned off, with Ekurhuleni Metro police and the community ensuring they are not opened; and that the City manager lead the process of relocating the community to a safer place.

The City further pleaded that “consideration be given to the family”.

“The parents are devastated, and like any parent, all they wished for was the recovery of the body. As the City, our efforts from day one have been that. However due to the reports from experts and the danger posed around the mission, we are compelled by law to abide by reports we have been given, which stop the operation,” the City’s statement read.

“We, however, remain committed towards assisting the Thole family through these trying times. They have indicated that we allow them time to consider our offer of assistance, and that is what we have agreed on together with community leaders.”

ALSO READ: Illegal miner offers ‘expert’ advice how to retrieve boy, 5, from shaft

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