Five dead, seven trapped in mine accident

Five people have been killed in a mine accident near Rustenburg, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says

NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said the accident happened late on Tuesday night at Marikana platinum mine.

"There was a fall of ground.

"Seven mine workers were trapped and five of them died."

Seshoka said that one person was critically injured and one left unscathed.

He said the cause of the fall of ground was not yet known.

"We are shocked that at the time when we thought we are doing all we can to improve safety, all of sudden we are encountering similar problems again."

Comment from mine management was not immediately available.