About 950 gold miners were stuck underground in South Africa on Thursday after a power cut, the mine’s owner said, though the workers were not reported to be in immediate danger. The Sibanye-Stillwater mining company said a massive power outage caused by a storm had prevented lifts from bringing the night shift to the surface at the Beatrix gold mine, in the small town of Theunissen near the city of Welkom. “We have got 955 employees still underground, they are in a confined and safe area, it’s the shaft waiting area (and) there is ventilation, we are supplying them with water and food,” James Wellsted, spokesman for Sibanye-Stillwater, told AFP. “So everybody is fine at the moment. We are trying to restore power so we can start hoisting them to the surface,” he said, speaking on the phone from the mine. He said the depth where the miners were trapped was uncertain, but the mine has 23 levels, going down to about 1,000 metres (3280 feet) below ground. One cable was restored during the day and 272 workers were rescued, but 955 remained trapped by early evening, the company said. They have been underground for over 24 hours and nervous family members patiently gathered along the road to the shaft, kept a distance by security guards. A generator at the shaft had started working. “The last time I heard from him was at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT on Wednesday). We believe nobody is hurt. But it is becoming long. The… [Read full story]
South African paramedics said as many as 50 people are feared trapped after a mall collapsed near the Indian Ocean city of Durban on Tuesday. JOHANNESBURG: One person was killed and as many as 50 workers were feared trapped on Tuesday after the roof of an under-construction mall collapsed near the South African city of Durban, officials said. Police spokeswoman Mandy Govender said one person was confirmed dead and at least 26 people have been pulled from the rubble. "It was a mall building still under construction," said Govender. "Most of those still trapped inside the building were construction workers."…... [read more]
Around 3,200 miners are trapped deep in a South African gold mine on October 3 after a power cable to a lift broke. There are concerns that the miners could be suffocating. The miners at the Elandsrand mine, are trapped about 2.2 km underground in a cramped space where temperatures can reach 30-40 degrees Celsius. The mine belongs to Harmony Gold, the world's fifth biggest gold producer. Harmony Gold has made rescue plans, however, it could take more than 10 hours before the plan can be put into operation. According to Reuters, production at the mine has been halted. There…... [read more]
Vietnam and South Africa both see great a potential for them to establish closer links, especially in footwear, seafood and wooden products, said the South African Ambassador to Vietnam. When talking to the media on the 16 th anniversary of South Africa 's Freedom Day (April 27, 1994-2010) in Hanoi , Ambassador Ratubasi Super Moloi said that many South African businesses are keen to invest in Vietnam in the areas of mining, clean water supplies, logistics and gold and diamond processing. South Africa is proud of the achievements it has made over the past 16 years, he said, adding that…... [read more]
South African Ambassador Kgomotso Magau delivers speech at a seminar yesterday in HCM City. — Photo vovworld.vn HCM CITY (Biz Hub) —Trade between Viet Nam and South Africa has great potential for development with co-operative ties in many sectors, South African Ambassador Kgomotso Magau said yesterday during a seminar and business matching event held in HCM City. As a major exporter of mineral-based commodities, South Africa is able to meet industrial sector demand in Viet Nam, she said. "Our embassy has noted strong growth in domestic consumption fuelled by increasing income levels, not only in South Africa, Viet Nam and…... [read more]
HCM CITY (VNS) — There is huge potential for co-operation in sectors such as mining, agriculture produce processing and the garment and textile industy between Viet Nam and South Africa, delegates said at a seminar yesterday in HCM City. Attending the forum were government officials, representatives of local firms and a delegation of sixteen South African enterprises seeking business opportunities in Viet Nam. Vo Tan Thanh, director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in HCM City, said that although trade between Viet Nam and South Africa was still modest, it had expanded in recent years, reaching US$920…... [read more]
