A miner was killed at Sibanye Gold’s Cooke mine on Tuesday‚ while two others were trapped in a shaft since Monday‚ the company said in a statement.

The miner who was killed was involved in an accident handling a pinch bar at the uranium mine’s 3 Shaft in Westonaria‚ on the West Rand.

Sibanye Gold CEO Neal Froneman sent condolences to the friends and family of the miner‚ whose identity has not been revealed yet.

In a separate incident‚ two miners allegedly entered a sealed abandoned section of 1 Shaft at the Cooke mine when the ground gave way and they were trapped.

Rescue efforts that began on Monday were continuing on Tuesday‚ the company said.

“Our priority is the safety of both the employees and the rescue teams. We have advised the Department of Mineral Resources and are working together to bring both these employees out. We are also in contact with their families and remain hopeful that we will be successful in our rescue operations‚” said Froneman.

“The company remains concerned about the scourge of illegal mining‚ and it believes that incidents such as these highlight the negative impact that illegal mining has on the safety of employees and the sustainability of the industry. “We are calling on all stakeholders and‚ in particular‚ government to take firm action and join forces with us in the fight against illegal mining‚” Froneman said.