Devastated parents Meshack Mohlala and Nombeko Thole.
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THE chances of finding five-year-old Richard Thole alive are very slim.
William Ntladi, a spokesman for disaster and emergency management services in Ekurhuleni, said: “It’s been almost five days now.
“Considering the size of the shaft and the challenges we face, the chances of finding the child alive are minimal.”
On Wednesday morning, heavy rockfalls delayed efforts to rescue Richard from the disused mine shaft.
Ntladi said they had worked throughout the night to remove loose soil around the shaft entrance when the rockfalls happened.
Richard fell into the disused shaft in Jerusalem squatter camp near Boksburg on Saturday. Rescuers have been trying to reach him ever since.
Nombeko Thole, the boy’s mum, was called to the shaft on Wednesday afternoon by Ekurhuleni Community Safety MMC Vivienne Chauke.
A few minutes later the upset mother returned, holding Chauke’s hand.
- Endurance Kazembe (34), a zama zama, said he needed just three or four other zama zamas to go underground with him to find the boy.
Kazembe claimed he had 16 years of mining experience.
“It is a vertical shaft. The child is covered with sand.
“You need to go down with a shovel and dig him out.”
William Ntladi, a spokesman for disaster and emergency management services in Ekurhuleni, said: “It’s been almost five days now.
“Considering the size of the shaft and the challenges we face, the chances of finding the child alive are minimal.”
On Wednesday morning, heavy rockfalls delayed efforts to rescue Richard from the disused mine shaft.
Ntladi said they had worked throughout the night to remove loose soil around the shaft entrance when the rockfalls happened.
Richard fell into the disused shaft in Jerusalem squatter camp near Boksburg on Saturday. Rescuers have been trying to reach him ever since.
Nombeko Thole, the boy’s mum, was called to the shaft on Wednesday afternoon by Ekurhuleni Community Safety MMC Vivienne Chauke.
A few minutes later the upset mother returned, holding Chauke’s hand.
- Endurance Kazembe (34), a zama zama, said he needed just three or four other zama zamas to go underground with him to find the boy.
Kazembe claimed he had 16 years of mining experience.
“It is a vertical shaft. The child is covered with sand.
“You need to go down with a shovel and dig him out.”
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