Two illegal miners escaped death by a whisker after spending two days trapped in a disused mine shaft at Porlastar mine which is under DGL5 mine in Inyathi.
The incident occurred last week on Tuesday around 3 pm and the two were only rescued on Friday.
Matabeleland North Police spokesperson, Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the incident although he could not immediately provide the names of the illegal miners.
“That happened in Inyathi, so it happened that the security personnel from Porlastar mine saw two gold miners whom they suspected to have stolen some gold ore from the mine. When they approached the two, they said they have been hired by illegal gold miners who were carrying out gold mining activities at the disused DGL5 mine,” said Inspector Banda.
He said when the security guards at DGL5 heard about the presence of illegal miners they went to the scene to investigate.
“Upon arrival, they discovered that there were about 25 illegal gold miners who were busy there. So upon seeing these security guards they ran away and the security at DGL5 mine removed the winch that assists to lower people into the shaft,” said Inspector Banda.
Inspector Banda said they later received information that there were two illegal miners who were left inside the shaft when the illegal gold miners fled from the mine security officials.
“That was when the police in Inyathi together with some affiliate members for miners for ED as well as the security from DGL5 proceeded to the disused mine shaft and they rescued the two,” he said.
They were sent to Inyathi hospital for treatment.
