A resident’s brave attempt to rescue two illegal miners, trapped in an abandoned mine at the Rand Lease Mine in Roodepoort, Gauteng, ended in failure when he fainted from a lack of oxygen before reaching the depth of the shaft. This came after Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) suspended their official search and rescue operation, citing the dangerous conditions within the mine.
Residents from the nearby Jerusalem Informal Settlement, unconvinced by EMS’s reports, took matters into their own hands. Determined to save the miners, they formed their own volunteer rescue team and began descending into the perilous shaft. The residents believed they heard signs of life from below, prompting them to take action despite the risks involved.
One volunteer was lowered into the mine with ropes, but his effort quickly turned disastrous. Struggling to breathe due to dangerously low oxygen levels, he fainted before reaching the trapped miners. EMS had previously warned of the hazardous conditions in the shaft, where oxygen levels were reported to be only 14%, making any further efforts incredibly risky.
As the operation continued to lose momentum, doubts grew among the community about the fate of the miners. The two zama zamas have been trapped since February 8 and were heard calling for help the following day. The community now faces the grim reality that recovery, whether alive or dead, may require alternative methods.
