23 May 2022

Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of an underground incident at Khoemacau Copper Mine which claimed the lives of two employees.

 The two were employees of   an Australian based company contracted to the mine.

Sehithwa station commander Superintendent Nshaki Mabophiwa confirmed in an interview that officials were currently on-site to establish the cause of the incident.

He said the deceased, a 36-year-old man from Indonesia and a 40-year-old Motswana from Selebi Phikwe, together with the other two employees were on a morning shift which started at 6am.

A statement from the mine states that it appears the two who are part of the blasting crew had proceeded underground to perform tasks at the Tshukudu section 140m below the surface.

It further says the bodies of the deceased were discovered by colleagues while the other two employees who were with them were recovering in hospital.

It notes the fatal incident as the first instance at the mine since the development began at the site. 

“We will use the outcome of the investigation to ensure that such incident does not reoccur, says Chief executive officer Mr Johan Ferreira in the statement. Ends