Police Commissioner Masemola admits concerns food & water sent down will help sustain Stilfontein illegal miners! Rescue operations at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein have entered another difficult phase, with a Pretoria High Court ruling on Friday that places new limitations on how community members can assist in bringing illegal miners, also known as “zama zamas,” to the surface.
This comes amid ongoing litigation concerning the treatment of these miners trapped underground.
The court’s ruling follows legal action taken by the NGO Mining Affected Communities United in Action, which dragged the police and various government departments to court over claims of inhuman treatment of the zama zamas.
This is the second round of litigation related to the state’s efforts to address the illegal mining crisis, a complex issue involving both law enforcement and humanitarian concerns.
Police Commissioner Masemola
Court Issues Interim Order for Humanitarian Aid
Earlier this week, the Pretoria High Court granted an interim order mandating that humanitarian aid be sent down to the miners, who have reportedly been suffering from hunger and dehydration underground.
The decision was made after an outcry over the lack of adequate support for those trapped below. The order, however, is not without limitations, as the court has imposed specific time frames for delivering aid.
On Thursday, the case returned to court, where proceedings were postponed to February 2025. Despite the ongoing legal battles, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that the operation to retrieve the miners would proceed under the new court-imposed restrictions.
New Limitations for the Operation
According to the new rules set by the court, food and water will be delivered to the zama zamas only from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:00, with no food allowed to be lowered over the weekends. Additionally, hazardous substances such as paraffin, gas, and diesel will no longer be permitted to be sent down the shaft.
Masemola, who visited the site of the operation earlier this week, acknowledged that while he respects the interim order, there are concerns that the continued delivery of food and water may inadvertently delay the success of Operation Vala Umgodi. The operation, aimed at clamping down on illegal mining activities, seeks to bring the zama zamas to the surface, but the fear is that the miners may be sustained for too long underground, potentially frustrating the operation’s objectives.
Masemola has also suggested that law enforcement may need to reconsider their approach, especially as the operation faces mounting challenges. “We may have to go back to the drawing board,” he said, expressing frustration over the delays and setbacks that have hindered the successful extraction of the illegal miners.
Rescue Efforts Stalled
It has now been three weeks since a task team was formed to lead the complex rescue mission in the North-West province. Despite the completion of phase two of the operation, the final phase, which involves bringing the zama zamas to the surface, has yet to begin.
Several issues have slowed the operation, including safety concerns, red tape, and funding shortages. Masemola revealed that the delays had pushed back the operation’s timeline, leaving no clear end in sight. Mining experts who were supposed to join the operation have also raised multiple conditions that need to be met before they can proceed with their part of the rescue, further complicating the situation.
“We may also have to face the difficult truth that not everyone underground is keen to resurface,” Masemola admitted. While authorities are committed to bringing the miners to safety, the reluctance of some to leave the tunnels poses an additional challenge for the team.
Growing Death Toll
As the operation drags on, the risks to the miners continue to mount. On Thursday, another body was retrieved from Shaft 11, bringing the known death toll to eight since early November. The tragic fatalities underscore the urgency of the rescue mission, highlighting the dangers illegal miners face underground.
Despite the setbacks, Masemola remains hopeful, stating that even if some miners resist coming to the surface, the authorities will persist in their efforts. “If they indeed want to come out, they must come out,” he said, adding that the operation will continue to evolve in response to the challenges faced by the rescue teams.
The Stilfontein mine crisis remains a deeply complex and ongoing issue, with both humanitarian and law enforcement aspects intertwined. As the case progresses through the courts, and with the rescue operation continuing to face obstacles, the situation remains dire for those trapped underground.
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