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Thandeka Moyo Chronicle Reporter
SOUTH African authorities have released the names of 22 Zimbabweans who suffocated to their deaths in a mining accident last week.
Twenty-seven bodies were retrieved from a disused shaft at Roodepoort Mine in Johannesburg, and police say 23 of the dead were Zimbabweans.A Bulawayo funeral parlour, Kings and Queens, has pledged to assist in the repatriation of the victims’ bodies which is set to begin shortly after a service at the Johannesburg Chapel tomorrow.

Kings and Queens chief executive officer Reuben Naran said all the 23 bodies would be in Zimbabwe by Saturday, adding that most of them would be buried in Bulawayo.

He identified the victims as Mpilo Siziba, Kwanele Siziba, Ndumiso Siziba, Melusi Siziba, Mthandazo Ncube, Mehluli Ncube, Danisa Ncube, Carrington Siwela, Brighton Moyo, Khethani Mbiba, Tshepo Sibanda, Shepherd Mnkandla and Brighton Mlambo — all from Nkayi district, under Chief Madliwa.

Naran said the bodies of five other victims — Dickson Gumbi, Life Ndlovu, Mjombi Mpofu, Edward Ncube and Nqobani Mlambo — will be ferried to Gokwe South under Chief Makora.

He said the only female victim, Sipho Ntimeni, came from Kezi under Chief Malaba.

“We also have Ndodana Mathe and Caanan Dube from Tsholotsho, under Chief Siphoso, and Ndodana Mathe from Kwekwe, under Chief Nduku. All these bodies will leave Johannesburg on Friday and by Saturday they will be in Zimbabwe,” said Naran.

The miners are suspected to have died after inhaling poisonous carbon monoxide in the disused Roodepoort Mine in Johannesburg West.
Disused mines throughout South Africa, believed to have huge gold deposits, have attracted scores of unemployed people from the southern African region who risk arrest and death.

The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services attempted to assist in the rescue efforts last week but had to abandon the operation after detecting high levels of carbon monoxide in one of the shafts.