Gold mine of desertion

Eunice Nyerende, sister of Solomon Nyerende, speaks of the impact the tragedy has had on their family since the accident a year ago.

Eunice Nyerende, sister of Solomon Nyerende, speaks of the impact the tragedy has had on their family since the accident a year ago.

Published Feb 3, 2017

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Sunday will be a year since Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyarende were last seen.

The three worked at the Lily Mine in Barberton, Mpumulanga. Their office was a container underground. It was the last stop before miners entered the gold mine and where they charged their headlamps.

One year ago, there was a cave-in and the container in which the three worked was swallowed up.

Initially, rescue teams picked up taps from inside the container. Several attempts were made to retrieve the container, but all failed.

A year later, mine authorities have still not been able to pinpoint exactly where the container lies. Furthermore, it is now too dangerous to do so.

The incident shut down operations at the mine and the company was put under administration.

Read also:  Memorial service for trapped Lily Mine workers

About R200 million is needed to reopen the mine and continue with efforts to recover the container. But nobody has come forward with the money.

Government promised R200 000 each to the grieving families as well as R50 000 to the families of other mine workers who were rescued.

However, Mosebenzi Zwane, the mineral resources minister, has failed to make good on his word.

Yet, the powers that be saw it fit to spend R246 billion to upgrade the president’s private home in Nkandla.

THE STAR

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