Memory engraved in a bracelet

Solomon Nyerende

Solomon Nyerende

Published Feb 3, 2017

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Barberton - She wore a blue bracelet with her brother’s name written on it. It read “SOLOMON”.

Speaking softly, she explained the significance behind it.

“I had it made before Solomon’s birthday, which is on August 9. It was made last year.”

Sitting on the porch of her house, Eunice Nyerende, Solomon Nyerende’s younger sister calmly recalled the painful events of last year when her brother and two other mineworkers were swallowed by the earth when a collapse occurred at Vantage Goldfields’ Lily Mine on the outskirts of Barberton, Mpumalanga.

“It’s very difficult because this is an open-ended situation; we don’t have any form of closure despite the promises that were made of retrieving the container. Whether they were still alive or dead but just to see their bodies that was the families wishes,” she explained.

Their mother has Downs Syndrome and is yet to fully comprehend the tragedy that befell their family.

“It’s difficult for her to understand and cope with the situation because she was admitted into hospital last year because of hypertension.”

“She cannot accept the situation. She told me her son was still at work - because that’s what she believes. I need to sit down with her and explain what it entails to be a mineworker and the dangers that come with it, and how serious the problem is at the moment,” she said.

The 33-year-old was also employed by the mining company in the procurement department but has since lost her job.

She said constant communication took place between her and the Vantage Goldfield regarding the retrieval of the lamp room container that her brother is believed to have been in at the time of the collapse.

“So far, we don’t know what is happening because we are always given assurance that the company is on the verge of getting the money needed to fund the operation, but nothing comes up.”

Read also:  Memorial service for trapped Lily Mine workers

With just two days before she marks a year since she last saw her brother, Eunice says it will be a difficult day to process.

“There will be a service at the mine to remember my brother, Pretty and Yvonne. But it's going to be painful.

“We are all going there because that is the only way we can remember what happened and hope that no other family will go through what we have gone through as the three families,” she said.

The mining company announced this week that a remembrance service was scheduled to take place at Lily Mine to honour the trio.

“One of the reasons we will be attending the service is to keep the memory of my brother alive.

“I hope this will force someone to act so we can see our loved ones again.”

PRETORIA NEWS

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