Five miners trapped underground at Du Toitspan Joint Shaft are now presumed dead
Image: File / Danie van der Lith / DFA
KIMBERLEY is facing one of the darkest chapters in its mining history after Ekapa Minerals confirmed five missing miners are now presumed dead and applied for liquidation, halting salaries and closing the historic Du Toitspan mine.
In a media statement issued on Wednesday, February 25, Ekapa Resources and Ekapa Minerals confirmed with deep regret that five miners who went missing following a catastrophic underground water flood and mud rush on February 17 remain unaccounted for and are now presumed deceased.
The disaster struck at approximately 00:55 at the 890 metre level of the Du Toitspan Joint Shaft, the lowest mining level of the operation. A sudden surge of water, mud, and rock inundated the newly developed underground area within minutes, rendering the level inaccessible.
Specialist mine rescue teams and technical experts have since undertaken continuous drilling, dewatering, and technical assessments in an attempt to locate the missing employees and determine whether any survivable conditions remained.
Life support drilling was completed into three areas where the miners had been working. According to the company, these interventions confirmed that the tunnels were fully flooded with mud and water, with no signs of survivable conditions. Down hole camera inspections similarly showed no indication of life.
Search and recovery operations are continuing, but access remains strictly governed by safety considerations due to unstable underground conditions. Approximately 18,000 cubic metres of water have been pumped from the affected area to date, with additional dewatering infrastructure installed.
Ekapa extended its deepest condolences to the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the missing miners, stating that engagement and support for families remain ongoing and that their privacy is being respected.
While the city was still reeling from the tragedy, shockwaves intensified on Wednesday afternoon when news broke that Ekapa Minerals had applied to court for liquidation.
A voice note circulated shortly after 12.05pm claimed that the company had formally applied for liquidation and that salaries would not be paid as there were no funds available. Workers were reportedly instructed to report to the mine to collect their personal belongings as operations prepare to shut down and facilities are secured.
According to the voice note, recovery efforts for the five trapped miners will continue despite the company’s financial collapse.
Employees say the news came without warning.
“I did not get paid today. I was told to fetch my things from underground because everything needs to be locked up soon. I do not know what is going to happen to me,” said one worker employed through a contractor at the mine. “It is really scary.”
Another worker added that the uncertainty has left him devastated. “Today I have no money and no work. The company still owes us a lot of money. I have a wife and a small child. This is a massive shock to my life. Kimberley already has no work.”
Roughly 1,050 people are believed to be employed at the mine.
The liquidation application marks a dramatic turn for one of Kimberley’s key mining operations and signals the end of 158 years of continuous diamond mining in the city.
The Du Toitspan 890 metre level had been central to Ekapa’s recovery strategy, known internally as Project 2026, aimed at sustaining operations during a severe downturn in the global natural rough diamond market.
By late 2025, natural rough diamond prices had declined by approximately 55 percent, placing enormous pressure on operations focused on smaller stone production.
The loss of access to the 890 metre level, combined with the estimated 10 to 18 months and substantial capital required to restore it, fundamentally altered the viability of the operation. The board and shareholders subsequently resolved to apply for liquidation, stating that the company can no longer meet its financial obligations.
For Kimberley, the implications extend far beyond the mine gates.
Small engineering firms, transport operators, security companies and equipment suppliers who relied heavily on the operation now face potential collapse. Several contractors claim they are owed significant sums for services and equipment already delivered.
One business owner said the mine owes his company substantial amounts. “When will we ever get that money, if we ever get the money?” he asked.
Another employee accused the company’s owners of extracting value without leaving sustainable benefits. “They came, took what they wanted, made their money and now they are leaving Kimberley with nothing left,” he said.
With unemployment already high in the Northern Cape capital, the sudden loss of more than 3,500 direct and indirect jobs threatens to deepen poverty levels, reduce household spending and place additional strain on local social support systems. Retailers, schools, landlords and informal traders are all expected to feel the knock-on effect in the coming months.
Unconfirmed rumours have also circulated regarding the possible closure of Kim Fly Charters, reportedly linked to the Hohne family. No official announcement has been made in that regard.
Despite the closure of the Du Toitspan mine, Ekapa says search operations for the missing miners will continue, subject to safety considerations. The company has thanked mine rescue teams, emergency services, regulators and industry partners for their support during what it described as an exceptionally difficult period.
Further communication will follow through formal legal and regulatory processes.
For Kimberley, the tragedy is both human and historic. Five families are grieving loved ones who may never return home, while a city built on diamonds now faces an uncertain future without one of its last major mining anchors.