Six bodies identified, investigation underway, Phalaborwa copper mine

South African Police Service

Six bodies identified, investigation underway, Phalaborwa copper mine
Six bodies identified, investigation underway, Phalaborwa copper mine

The Police in Phalaborwa are still investigating the death of the six people who were trapped underground at the Phalaborwa copper mine in the early hours of Sunday 15 July 2018.

The joint search operation led by the Search and Rescue Teams was activated soon after this tragic incident was reported to the Police until in the early hours of the morning of 16 July 2018, at about 02:35 when all the bodies of the deceased were successfully retrieved.

The cause of this incident is still not clear at this stage however police investigations in conjunction with other role players including the affected mine will tell as they are still continuing.

An inquest docket has been opened for further Police investigations which will include the conducting of autopsy.

The people who died during this incident were positively identified by their families as follows:

Shaun Mashigo aged 26 from Namakgale outside Phalaborwa.
Peter Selowa aged 32 from Mashishimale village outside Phalaborwa.
Vula Eckson Mayindi aged 60 from Namakgale outside Phalaborwa.
Kgotso Peter Sekgobela aged 29 from Maseke Moshate village outside Phalaborwa.
Lebogang Elliot Maake aged 37 from Namakgale outside Phalaborwa.
Russel Ricardo Warne aged 24 from Phalaborwa town.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service