The Ekapa Minerals mine, a diamond mining operation in Kimberley, has been placed under liquidation following a devastating mud rush incident that trapped five miners underground. All mining activities at the site have been halted with immediate effect.
The incident occurred last Tuesday when a sudden mud rush, involving excessive water, mud, and rock, inundated an underground section of the mine, trapping the five workers. Rescue efforts have been ongoing since then but have been severely hampered by the excessive water underground. As of the latest updates, marking over a week—or eight days—since the event, the five men remain trapped, and rescue teams have exited the mine, leaving the workers alone underground.
A Numsa organizer in Kimberley stated that the union received information from shop stewards inside the company about a meeting involving the company and the Department of Mineral Resources. During the meeting, it was announced that the mine was being liquidated with immediate effect. The organizer expressed shock, noting that liquidation is typically a lengthy process and not something that occurs overnight.
Numsa highlighted the ongoing tragedy, describing the situation as devastating and confirming that the rescue teams’ exit indicates the trapped workers have been left behind. The union has long viewed the site as a “crime scene,” citing previous incidents where workers have died in the same shaft with little action taken. Numsa emphasized that this latest event has made the issues visible to the world.
In response, Numsa has engaged its legal department across multiple regions, with legal officers called to the office of the general secretary to seek advice. The union stated it will not let the matter “slip” and plans to approach the courts for a way forward, including a clear plan on how the trapped men will be retrieved.
Addressing the families of the five affected workers, the Numsa organizer urged them to keep believing in God, as nothing supersedes divine strength. The union opened its doors for any assistance they can provide and encouraged families not to hesitate in approaching the South African Police Services to open a case against what it described as a “murderous company.” Numsa claimed to have evidence of the company murdering people and has provided information to relevant departments. The union expressed shock that the office of the premier has not taken the matter seriously and announced plans to rally and lobby the Kimberley community to approach the office for answers, questioning how operations were allowed to continue despite alleged lack of proper documents and non-compliance with health and safety procedures.
The liquidation announcement has compounded the crisis, halting operations and raising concerns about workers’ salaries and future employment at the historic site. Numsa reiterated its commitment to supporting the affected families and pursuing accountability through legal channels.