MBABANE – A 28-year-old man died underground after a mine shaft collapsed on him during an illegal gold mining expedition at Malolotja Nature Reserve on Monday.
Clement Mabuza of Vusweni in the Hhohho Region, was among seven men who entered the nature reserve illegally in search of gold, following reports that the mountains held riches capable of changing their lives.
Instead, the expedition ended with Mabuza trapped beneath collapsed soil, while his companions fled the dangerous shaft in the darkness.
His body was only recovered yesterday afternoon after a painstaking operation involving the police, fire and emergency personnel, park officials, family members and members of the community.
According to *Melusi Methula, who reported the matter to the police, he and Mabuza lived in Pigg’s Peak when rumours began circulating that there was gold in the mountains of Malolotja and money to be made through illegal mining.
*Methula said Mabuza told him that he knew people who had previously worked at similar sites and could take them to places where gold was allegedly being mined. “He came and told us that there is money in the mountains at Malolotja and we ought to try and find it in order to improve our lives,” Methula said.
On Monday morning, Mabuza invited Methula to accompany him to the reserve. Methula said he initially questioned whether the trip was safe, particularly after hearing claims that park rangers were dangerous and shot to kill.
He said Mabuza assured him that the men would be safe, particularly because it was raining and, according to him, rangers would be less likely to patrol the reserve.
The two prepared for the journey, while their other friends remained behind. They then made their way to the reserve and entered through the fence without permission. But their troubles began almost immediately. The men became lost while trying to locate the hill where the gold was reportedly found.
As they contemplated turning back, they encountered the other men Mabuza had previously spoken about, who had knowledge and experience about the job.
Mabuza introduced Methula to them before the group decided to continue together because the men claimed to know the area. Methula said the condition of the mining site immediately concerned him. “When we got there, I started asking them how safe it was because I was concerned after seeing how the area looked. In my view, it was not a safe site,” he said. The five men they had met along the way, however, allegedly assured them that they had mined there before and that the site was safe. They entered the shaft. Then the makeshift shaft gave way. According to Methula, the soil suddenly collapsed, burying Mabuza while he himself was trapped from the waist down.
The other five men, who were ahead of them, managed to get out of the shaft. Before leaving, the group tried to rescue Mabuza, but their efforts failed. “We tried to retrieve Mabuza from under the collapsed soil, but we could not manage to dig him out,” Methula said.
The rescue attempt continued until the men began feeling dizzy due to lack of oxygen in the shaft. Methula eventually managed to get out. But when he reached the surface, the five men who had escaped before him were gone. He called out for them, but received no response.
Alone, in the darkness and deep inside the reserve, Methula began the long journey back to safety. He said he struggled to find his way through the reserve because it was pitch black. It was then that he noticed lights from the Malolotja Nature Reserve camp and used them as a guide.
He attempted to contact the police toll-free number, but could not get through because of poor network connectivity. His phone battery was also running out. By the time he reached an area with a stronger signal, his phone had switched off. It was around 5am on Tuesday. Methula eventually reached the road, where he asked motorists for lifts to Pigg’s Peak. He arrived shortly after 6am, charged his phone and contacted the police. The police instructed him to wait for them along the road at Malolotja Nature Reserve. Officers subsequently inspected the site before determining that the fire and emergency team would be required to recover Mabuza’s body.
*Name deliberately changed as he is still involved in an investigation with the police.
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