Coalbrook mining disaster

[1] The disaster occurred in the Coalbrook coal mine of Clydesdale Colliery on 21 January 1960 at around 19:00 when approximately 900 pillars caved in, almost 180 metres (590 ft) underground.

[2] The mine is situated in the Northern Free State, 21 kilometres (13 mi) south west of Vereeniging.

[3] About 1,000 miners were in the mine at the time and 437 died after being trapped, while the rest escaped through an incline shaft.

[5] Miners felt a strong blast wind, many of whom rushed up to the surface but were instructed to return underground or face imprisonment.

[6] Immediately after the incident, rescue teams arrived from other mines in the region and boreholes were drilled into areas where survivors were expected to be.

With too much methane and carbon monoxide in the mine for any rescue team to penetrate the South East of section 10, one of the solutions was to drill from the surface all the way down into the entombed shaft.

[11] Since then, no official commemoration has been held by the South African government.In 2017, the Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) and other stakeholder groups involved promoted the construction and installation of a tribute memorial and plaque at the site.

[12]Little is known about the status of other plans to have a museum and information center built in order to make the location a tourist destination in the area.

On January 21 ,2025 the community of Zamdela ,Sasolburg led by Kedibone Motlhasedi organized the first commemorations to have the MEC of the Free State Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation: Ms Zanele Sifuba.