The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mr Gwede Mantashe, will on Friday, 27 February 2026, undertake a follow-up visit to Ekapa Minerals (Pty) Ltd in Kimberley. This visit follows the Minister’s initial oversight visit on Friday, 20 February 2026, during which he received a comprehensive briefing from mine management and rescue personnel regarding the ongoing rescue mission to locate the five unaccounted-for mineworkers at the Joint Shaft Mine. During the visit, Minister Mantashe is expected to receive an updated progress report from the Department’s inspectors, mine management, and rescue teams on developments related to the rescue operation. Members of the media are advised of the visit that is scheduled as follows: Date: Friday, 27 February 2026 Time: 09h00 Venue: Ekapa Mine Operations Centre, Kimberley, Northern Cape To RSVP, please contact: Solomon Phetla – Solomon.phetla@dmpr.gov.za/ / mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za / 083 650 4395 For media enquiries: Ms Lerato Ntsoko – Lerato.ntsoko@dmpr.gov.za / mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za/ 082 459 2788 Issued by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources