North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management Wessels Morweng said the rescue team appointed to retrieve illegal miners who are underground at an abandoned shaft in Stilfontien, would be tactical as they consider them armed and dangerous.
The team was appointed last week, following an oversight visit by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and other senior officials from the SANDF.
The rescue team led by Morweng comprises SAPS, District Mayor and Local Mayor, community leaders, mine owners, mine rescue technical team and government departments.
Morweng together with the National Deputy Commissioner for Police Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili briefed the media on Monday in Stilfontein on their plans to retrieve the zama zamas.
“No one is going to be sent down, but we have a plan.
We don’t want to get to the finer details of the plan because at the top of everything we are rescuing criminals.
We are dealing with the people that might intercept our plan and make sure that it doesn’t materialize,” said Morweng.
Morweng highlighted that they have evidence that the zama zamas at the shaft are hardcore criminals who committed crimes like rape, among others.
It is alleged that over 4000 illegal miners are still in the shaft, and Morweng said a lifter would be send underground to help them resurface
“No one is going to be send underground.
But we have a system that we’ll be used to verify the number of the people underground which will inform our plan,” explained Morweng.
According to Morweng, the government has committed to carrying the costs to rescue the illegal miners, adding that other stakeholders including the Department of Minerals and the community would have to get on board if there’s a need.
Meanwhile, the miners sent a note to authorities that they be provided with ARV’s underground.
Mosikili said the process of sending medication would be conducted in a coordinated manner.
“You will recall that we have an interim court order that was issued on Saturday that requested that we need to give the necessary medication to ensure the safety of life.
And if the sending of ARV’s is part of the request, we have indicated that it will be done in a very coordinated manner,” said Mosikili.
She emphasized that the rescue team needed to know those to whom they would be sending the medication.
According to Mosikili food items such as mageu, water and energy drinks will be sent underground.