THREE miners died in two separate mine accidents which
occurred in Maphisa and Colleen Bawn, Matabeleland South province.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief
Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incidents which occurred at Antelope
East Extension Mine, Maphisa and Dip 7 Stream Mine in Colleen Bawn on Tuesday
and Wednesday.
He said in the first incident Jabulani Moyo (30) fell into
a 30 metre deep shaft after a rope he was using snapped. Chief Insp Ndebele
said in the other incident Pios Sibanda and Chris Dube both aged 25 were
working in a five metre deep shaft when it collapsed.
“I can confirm that we recorded two mining accidents in
Matabeleland South province which resulted in the death of three miners. In the
first incident Jabulani Moyo of Mloyi Village in Kezi was working at Antelope
East Extension Mine with other miners.
They lowered him down the shaft in a bucket which was tied to a rope.
“After Moyo was done in the shaft he signalled his
workmates to pull him up. While he was on his way up, the rope snapped and Moyo
fell down the shaft. He sustained serious injuries as a result of the accident
and was ferried to Maphisa District Hospital where he was further referred to
Mpilo Central Hospital where he died the following day,’’ he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele said Pios Sibanda and Chris Dube were
illegally panning at Dip 7 Stream Mine in the middle of the night on Wednesday
when the shaft collapsed on them.
He said Sibanda and Dube sustained severe injuries and died
on the spot. He said on the following day Sibanda’s sister became worried after
realising that her brother had not returned home the previous night. Chief Insp
Ndebele said she went to check at the mine and found some clothes which
belonged to her brother outside the shaft.
He said the matter was reported to the police who attended
the scene leading to the recovery of the two bodies.
Five artisanal miners died at Nugget Gold Mine in Matobo
after a tunnel collapsed following a gold rush on Monday last week. About 1 000
fortune seekers swarmed the area after news spread that rich gold deposits had
been found at the abandoned mine. Chronicle
0 comments:
Post a Comment