RUSTENBURG – The body of trapped Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) miner Ohemile Moses Maamogwa has been located, the company said on Friday.
“It is with deep sadness that the Impala Platinum management team and the board of directors of Implats announce that after an intensive search and rescue operation, the body of Mr Ohemile Moses Maamogwa has now been located,” said spokesperson Johan Theron.
“The body of 55-year-old Maamogwa, originally from Morokweng Village in Vryburg, will now be recovered by mine rescue teams and brought to surface.”
He said mine management, together with members of the department of mineral resources (DMR), and the Association of Mineworker and Construction Union (Amcu) continued to spend time with the family of Maamogwa to offer support.
“The intensive, round-the-clock search and rescue operation in very challenging and unstable ground conditions was conducted by specialised mine rescue teams from Impala Platinum and the Mine Rescue Services (MRS), supported by the department of minerals resources.”
Implats’ CEO, Terence Goodlace said: “This tragic and very painful incident has deeply affected all of us. Our deepest sympathies have been extended to our colleagues’ families and friends. They will remain in our thoughts and prayers. We are working closely with the families to provide the required support and assistance following this terrible accident.
“I would also like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all who have assisted in the intensive search and rescue operation, especially the mine rescue teams and representatives from the DMR and Amcu.”
Implats said together with the DMR and Amcu, it would now mobilise specialised teams to investigate the accident.
Maamogwa, a rock drill operator, was trapped underground following a rock fall at Implats’ 1 Shaft in Meriting near Rustenburg on May 17.
He was trapped underground with fellow rock drill operator Tanki Samuel Lepitikoe, 40. Seven other mineworkers escaped the rock fall unharmed.
Lepitikoe’s body was recovered on May 19. He was laid to rest in Maseru, Lesotho.
Mining operations at Implats’ 1 Shaft have been suspended.