A major rescue operation is underway after two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) fell into an abandoned vertical mine shaft while pursuing suspected illegal miners at the disused CRD Mine in western Johannesburg on Friday morning.
In a joint statement, the SANDF and the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the incident occurred at about 6am during Operation Prosper, an ongoing anti-illegal mining operation targeting illegal mining activities across Gauteng.
According to the statement, SANDF members spotted suspected illegal miners, commonly known as zama-zamas, emerging from the underground workings of the abandoned mine. As the soldiers pursued the suspects into a tunnel, two members of the team slipped and fell into an open vertical mine shaft.
Specialised emergency response teams, including Mine Rescue Services and disaster management personnel, were immediately dispatched to the scene and are leading the rescue operation.
“The SA National Defence Force and South African Police Service wish to assure the public that the absolute focus and immediate priority is the safe extraction and well-being of the members,” the joint statement said.
Authorities added that every available specialised resource had been mobilised to assist with the rescue under what they described as “highly complex underground conditions.”
No information has yet been released on the condition of the two SANDF members.
Operation Prosper was launched to intensify efforts against illegal mining, particularly in Gauteng’s abandoned mine shafts, where security forces have conducted several operations resulting in the arrest of hundreds of suspected illegal miners and the seizure of mining equipment.
The SANDF and SAPS said further updates on the rescue operation would be provided as more information becomes available.
