Four mineworkers rescued after being trapped underground at the Driefontein Gold Mine on the West Rand suffered only minor injuries, the mine said on Friday.
Spokesperson Willie Jacobsz said five workers were trapped at number six shaft near Carletonville on Thursday night after a seismic event measuring 2,5 on the Richter Scale.
The team leader was rescued on Thursday night and three others at 9.50am on Friday morning.
”A search for the fourth member of the team is continuing”, Jacobsz.
The rescued men sustained only minor injuries, he said.
The incident occurred 2 475m below surface at 11.25pm on Thursday night.
Trade union Solidarity has called for urgent investigation into the safety situation at the mine.
”The safety situation at the Driefontein Mine is a growing source of concern to the trade union. Earlier this week a workers died in a rock fall at the mine,” said Solidarity’s occupational health and safety expert, Chris Pienaar.
The union also wanted the mine to conduct a public audit of the number of workers dying on duty every year.
”It is important that the public will know the time, date, place and cause of every fatal accident, as well as the inspector of mines’ finding regarding every accident,” Pienaar said. — Sapa