Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has assured residents of Stilfontein in the North West, that authorities would ensure that illegal miners who remain underground at an abandoned mine shaft, resurface.
Mchunu, accompanied by his deputy, Cassel Mathale, senior officials from SANDF and representatives of other stakeholders, conducted an oversight visit at the mine on Friday.
The minister said that 1187 people have already come to the surface from the mine, while one illegal miner passed away and police have registered an inquest to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
A significant number remain underground, and police have dismissed reports that community leaders that there are more than 4 500 illegal miners are still underground.
“We are aware that what is happening there is dangerous.
We are doing everything in our power to deal with the situation we are faced with.
We need a much quicker process because it is risky and dangerous for them to remain where they are,” said Mchunu.
The stand-off came after police cut off supplies of food and water to force the miners to resurface.
Mchunu condemned the illegal miners activities, adding that they are aware that they carry illegal firearms.
“These are people who are coming to South Africa illegally.
What we are doing as the police is to ensure that there is law and order in the country,” explained Mchunu.
Meanwhile, a rescue team has been established and would be led by North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng.
The team has been tasked to develop a comprehensive rescue plan to assist in bringing the illegal miners to the surface and has already held a meeting with relevant stakeholders that forms part of the rescue team established by Mchunu.
During the meeting, Morweng requested the mine owners and rescue specialists to work on conducting the assessment, which will inform the operational plan to rescue those underground.
Moreover, the mine owners indicated that there is a need to clear the site before any resource can be deployed on site, which they committed to implement immediately when the community members have vacated the area.
“We need to allow the technical rescue team to make the proper risk assessment that will inform this operational plan.
Our common ground here is to rescue those people.
The earlier we talk to community members on site and allow the mine owners and technical rescue team to clear the site and deploy relevant machinery to do the risk assessment and start to operationalise the plan,” said Morweng.
The rescue team comprises SAPS, District Mayor and Local Mayor, community leaders, mine owners, mine rescue technical team and government departments.
