Hundreds of workers remain underground after ‘shaft incident’ at South African gold mine, company says
LONDON —
Hundreds of workers are currently underground at the Kloof gold mine near Johannesburg following a “shaft incident” at Sibanye Stillwater’s sub-shaft, the South Africa-based mining company reported on Friday.
“We are actively implementing our safety and shaft examination procedures,” Sibanye-Stillwater stated. “All 260 employees have been safely accounted for and provided with food.”
A spokesperson from Sibanye-Stillwater clarified to ABC News that the workers are not trapped. The company expects to bring all affected employees to the surface by Friday afternoon.
“Following a detailed risk assessment, employees are being kept at the sub-shaft station until it is safe to bring them to the surface,” the company explained. “It is anticipated that all affected employees will be brought to the surface around midday today.”
A general view of the Sibanye Stillwater mine, where efforts continue to rescue mine workers trapped underground at one of its shafts at the Kloof gold mine, in Westonaria, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 23, 2025.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
“Initial investigations indicate that the Kloof 7 sub-shaft rock winder skip door opened at the loading point on level 39, causing damage to levels 40 and 41 below,” the company disclosed. “The skip door’s impact also led to damage at level 35, which has since been addressed.”
This is a developing story. Please stay tuned for updates.
