(AFP) – Oct 3, 2007

CARLETONVILLE, South Africa (AFP) — Rescuers completed a marathon operation Thursday to bring 3,200 workers to the surface after they had been trapped more than a mile underground at a gold mine in South Africa.

"It has been 30 hours of suffering. We had no food, no water and we are exhausted," Richman Maneli told AFP, as he became the last miner to exit a makeshift lift at the Elandsrand mine, southwest of Johannesburg.

The mine's general manager confirmed the last batch of 52 miners to be hoisted to ground level at around 8:30pm (1830 GMT) signalled the end of the rescue operation which began after the main lift broke down on Wednesday morning, some 2,200 metres (7,260 feet) below the surface.

"This is absolutely the last batch of miners to come out," general manager Stan Bierschenk told AFP.

Although at least three miners, including one woman, were brought out on a stretcher after the replacement lift reached the surface towards the end of the rescue operation, there were no reports of serious injury.

Nhlauhla Mtshali, a doctor attending to those brought to the surface, said three people had collapsed from dehydration and two were receiving hospital treatment.

"Five people have complained of cramps and there are two paramedics down on the ground helping people into the lift," she added.

Once back on the surface, miners were warmly welcomed by cheering colleagues who shook their hands and gave them food before they were led away for medical attention.

Among those who witnessed the end of the rescue operation was Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica who shook hands with each of them as the overjoyed workers sang songs and clapped.

"We will intensify our monitoring of the mines. We want to make sure that everybody is safe completely. We will also investigate the circumstances that led to the accident," Sonjica said.

A tired and dusty Caswell Kabonga, who emerged after more than 24 hours in the mineshaft, described the oppressive heat and lack of water underground as "very bad".

"The experience is very bad. It is hot down there. There is no water. I am very hungry and thirsty now. I feel like eating anything that I can see," said the 24-year-old, who has worked at the mine for 18 months.

Sonjica warned that mine owners Harmony Gold would be prosecuted if an investigation proved negligence.

"This particular mine will be closed for between three and six weeks until the (lift) is repaired. We will prosecute if there is proof of negligence," Sonjica told reporters, condemning a lackadaisical approach to mine safety.

The National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Peter Bailey said the episode should serve as a wake-up call to the gold mining industry which is a major driver of the South African economy.

"The gold industry in general is very negligent on safety matters," he said.

"The lesson that must be drawn from this is that you cannot have a cage with electric cable run on a daily basis and not do daily safety checks."

The incident at Elandsrand was the second safety scare at a Harmony mine in a fortnight. One person needed hospital treatment late last month after a fire broke out at St Helena mine, near the town of Welkom, in the Free State.

Harmony, the fifth largest gold producer in the world, bought Elandsrand from rival AngoGold in a one billion rand (144 million dollar/102 million euro) deal in 2001, when it also acquired the neighbouring Deelkraal mine.

Since then, it has been busy deepening the sub-shafts in order to access 6.9 million ounces of proven gold reserves.

The ruling African National Congress said in a statement it was concerned about reports that poor shaft maintenance had led to the incident which had "put the spotlight again on the crucial question of safety in our mines."

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