The South African government announces it will not intervene to assist thousands of illegal miners trapped inside a recently closed mine, citing safety and legal concerns.
The South African government has announced that it will not assist approximately 4,000 illegal miners trapped in a closed mine in the North West province. These miners have been cut off from essential supplies as part of an official strategy to combat illegal mining activities.
It is believed that the miners in Stilfontein’s mineshaft are struggling with a shortage of food, water, and other basic necessities after police blocked the entrances used for supplying them underground.
It is part of the police’s Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, operation. This initiative involves cutting off miners’ supplies to compel them to return to the surface where they can be arrested.
According to North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone, reports from recent rescuers of three miners suggest that up to 4,000 miners could be trapped underground. However, the police have not yet released an official estimate.
In recent weeks, more than 1,000 miners have emerged from various mines in the North West province. Many of them are reported to be weak, hungry, and ill after spending weeks without essential supplies.
On Thursday, police continue to monitor areas surrounding the mine in order to apprehend anyone emerging from underground.
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On Wednesday, Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni informed reporters that the government would refrain from providing assistance to the illegal miners due to their involvement in criminal activity.
“We will not be providing assistance to criminals. Instead, we intend to drive them out of hiding and ensure they face accountability for their actions. These individuals should receive no aid; it was not our decision that put them in this situation,” said Ntshavheni.
Illegal mining continues to be prevalent in South Africa’s former gold-mining regions, as miners enter abandoned shafts searching for any remaining deposits.
The miners working illegally often come from neighboring countries, and according to the police, these unlawful operations are part of larger syndicates that hire them.
Their presence in closed mines has also led to issues with nearby communities, which claim that the illegal miners engage in a range of criminal activities, including robbery and rape.
Heavily armed illegal mining groups are notorious for engaging in violent disputes that often lead to deadly confrontations.
