AngloGold Ashanti said on Thursday it was still searching for a miner who went missing at its Great Nolinga Mine in the Free State six days ago, and had temporarily shut down the mine while trying to locate him.

Spokesperson Alan Fine said Adriaan Olivier (40) was reported missing on Saturday, after he failed to return to surface at the end of his shift.

"An immediate search was started on 68 level, where Mr Olivier had last been seen. This search proved unsuccessful and the mine's emergency call out procedure was activated. A mine-wide search has been underway since that time," he said.

He said additional cooling has been installed in parts of the mine to facilitate the search operation.

"Blasting operations have been suspended since Mr Olivier was reported missing and will not be resumed until such time as the search has been called off or Mr Olivier located."

He said AngloGold Ashanti was in consultation with the department of minerals and energy and with labour organisations on the issue, and Olivier's family was being kept informed about the search process.