Police in the North West have urged members of the public to help them trace family members or relatives of illegal miners who died at the abandoned shaft 11 in Stilfontein, near Klerksdorp, in the North West.
This as police said they’re unable to conduct DNA tests on the bodies, due to a lack of correct samples.
“Members of the public and the community who do not know where their next of kin are and they know or suspect that they were working in and around Khuma/Stilfontein as zama zamas and have not seen or heard from them for some time, to please get into contact with the investigation team at Stilfontein Police Station.
They must come on Thursday, 13 and Friday, 14 February 2025, between 08:00 and 15:00.
Those who come are requested to bring along their official identification which will be used for the drawing of DNA samples,” said provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.
According to Mokgwabone, a total of 18 samples have been taken since the beginning of the identification process last week.
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has launched an investigation into the Stilfontein disaster.
The commission said the investigation was instituted pursued to a complaint lodged at the SAHRC’s North West Provincial Office alleging that for a prolonged period, estimated to be approximately three months, miners have been unable to exit the mine shafts and have had no access to water, food, or adequate medical assistance.
“According to the complaint, more than 4 500 miners remained trapped underground, with their survival threatened by deteriorating conditions, lack of essential supplies, and limited access to alternative means of escape.
The decision to institute a National Inquiry into the Policy Framework around Artisanal Mining, the Impact of Artisanal Mining on the Human Rights of Surrounding Communities and the Scope and Tactics Employed in Operation Vala Umgodi was necessitated by the magnitude of what transpired in Stilfontein, submissions received from members of the community, miners, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs),” read a statement from SAHRC.
