Sibanye-Stillwater has confirmed that a shaft incident occurred at its Kloof 7 sub-shaft on May 22, 2025, resulting in 289 miners being trapped underground. The incident took place around 10:00 PM SAST, and all miners have been accounted for and are safe.

The incident involved the rock winder skip door opening unexpectedly at the loading point on level 39, impacting levels 40 and 41 below. Additionally, minor damage occurred on level 35. Sibanye-Stillwater’s emergency protocols were swiftly implemented, and the company has since completed safety work on the affected areas.

“Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our employees,” the company said in a statement. “We are currently conducting thorough shaft examinations, and once these are complete, we will begin safely hoisting workers to the surface.”

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Following a detailed risk assessment, management determined it would be safer for employees to remain at the sub-shaft station rather than attempt long-distance walks underground. The company estimates that all employees will be safely brought to the surface around midday today.

Sibanye-Stillwater continues to investigate the cause of the incident and has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards across its operations.