Background on the incident:
A seismic event (recording a local magnitude of 2.5) occurred on the western side
of the Driefontein operations at approximately 12:15 on Thursday, 3 May 2018.
Immediately after the location (epicentre) of this seismic event was identified
by Sibanye-Stillwater’s extensive underground seismic monitoring systems, the
teams working in the western side were contacted to ascertain if there had been
any related safety concerns. One of the teams did not respond on the first
call, and a rescue process was immediately triggered. An emergency control
room was established and paramedics and mine rescue teams deployed to the mine.
The unaccounted for team subsequently responded and it was established that the
installed support and other safety systems in the area had prevented
significant damage, and as a result, there were no injuries or safety issues
resulting from the seismic event.
A mine rescue team had already been deployed and was making its way
underground, when an unrelated second seismic event (recording a local magnitude
of 2.2) occurred at about 13:20, on the eastern side of the Masakhane mine
approximately 2.5km away from the first event.
Although of a lower magnitude than the first event, the second seismic event
caused a working stope (40 level,-27 East, 7 West panel), which was close to
the epicentre of the seismic event to be inundated with loose rocks, trapping
13 employees working in the stope. No other stopes in the mine were affected
and all remaining employees at Driefontein were safely evacuated from the
underground operations.
Shortly after the incident, rescue efforts began in earnest. All relevant
stakeholders including the DMR and unions were alerted about the incident and
once the missing employees had been identified, efforts to contact their
families were made. The families were offered transport to the mine, where they
received regular updates on the rescue mission, and support, trauma counselling
and medical care.
Specially trained rescue teams from Mine Rescue Services, supported by Sibanye-
Stillwater employees and guided by management in the emergency control room,
worked relentlessly in extremely challenging conditions, for more than 40 hours
to rescue and recover the missing employees, with the last employee being
recovered at about 07:30 on Saturday 5 May 2018. The fact that there were no
further injuries despite the trying conditions, is testament to the training
and commitment of these teams. We would like to thank all of the Mine Rescue
Services brigadesmen from across the SA Mining industry, who volunteered for
this essential service. A special note of appreciation goes to our own
employees who volunteered and worked non-stop through the entire rescue period
alongside the Mine Rescue Services brigadesmen. You are all true heroes.
Blasting operations were suspended across the Driefontein operations following
the seismic event. Blasting operations subsequently resumed at the unaffected
Driefontein mines on Saturday, 5 May 2018.
Ends.
Investor relations contact:
James Wellsted
Head of Investor Relations
+27 (0) 83 453 4014
Email: ir@sibanyestillwater.com
Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa (Proprietary) Limited