An initial investigation suggests that damage in the mine shaft occurred when a hatch was opened at the Kloof mine west of Johannesburg.
"Following a detailed risk assessment, it was decided that employees would remain at the mine station until it is safe to proceed further up, to avoid traveling long distances at present," the company writes in a statement.
According to the trade union NUM, which represents the workers at Kloof, they have been trapped for nearly a day.
We are very concerned since the mine has not even disclosed this incident until we informed the media, says spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu.
According to the company, all miners are safe and will be able to be retrieved on Friday.
