Two members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are currently trapped in an abandoned vertical mine shaft following an incident during Operation Prosper, an anti-illegal mining operation in western Johannesburg.

The incident occurred on July 17, 2026, when SANDF personnel pursuing suspected illegal miners (zama-zamas) emerging from underground workings slipped into the open shaft.

Brig Brenda Muridili, representing the SANDF, confirmed that specialised emergency response teams, including Mine Rescue Services and disaster management personnel, have been deployed to the site.The operation is described as highly complex due to the challenging underground conditions.The immediate priority remains the safe extraction and wellbeing of the two SANDF members, with all available resources mobilised.Updates on the rescue efforts and the condition of the trapped personnel will be provided as more information becomes available.The incident highlights the risks faced by security forces during anti-illegal mining operations, particularly in abandoned and unstable mine sites.Authorities are also reviewing protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.