One of the foreign illegal miners who survived that explosion at a decommissioned Welkom mine has accused the owners of deliberately causing the deadly blast.
Just how far can Gwede Mantashe go in pushing the limits of what is acceptable behaviour for a Cabinet minister? His recent actions suggest he does not feel the same boundaries, or is bound by the same rules, as other Cabinet ministers.
A methane gas explosion in a disused South African mine killed at least 31 people last month believed to be from neighbouring Lesotho, South Africa's energy department said on Friday.