The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed the deaths of two of its members who fell into an abandoned mine shaft while pursuing suspected illegal miners during Operation Prosper in western Johannesburg on Friday morning.
According to the SANDF, the incident occurred at about 6am at the abandoned CRD Mine, where soldiers deployed as part of the anti-illegal mining operation spotted suspected illegal miners emerging from underground workings.
A pursuit followed into one of the mine tunnels, during which the two SANDF members fell into an open, abandoned vertical mine shaft.
Specialised emergency response teams, including Mine Rescue Services and disaster management personnel, were immediately dispatched to the scene to carry out a rescue operation.
However, the SANDF said the operation ended tragically with the recovery of the bodies of both soldiers.
“The process of formally identifying the deceased and notifying their next of kin is currently underway. The names of the members will be released once their families have been fully informed,” the SANDF said in a statement.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Secretary for Defence Bereng Mthimkhulu and Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya extended their condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen soldiers.
“The South African National Defence Force regrets to confirm the loss of life of two of its members during an anti-illegal mining operation under Operation Prosper,” the statement read.
Operation Prosper is a multi-agency security operation aimed at combating illegal mining, commonly associated with heavily armed zama zamas operating in abandoned mines across Gauteng and other parts of the country. The operation involves the SANDF working alongside the South African Police Service and other government agencies to curb illegal mining and related criminal activities.
