The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West has declared the closure of the rescue operations at an abandoned shaft 11 in Stilfontein near Klerksdorp as tragic and traumatic.
The MRM is a networking platform that facilitates and coordinates all processes and initiatives aimed at combating moral degeneration.
Authorities called off the operation on Friday after they satisfied themselves that there were no longer alive nor deceased illegal miners underground.
The government led operation, which started last week Monday, led to the retrieval of 246 zama zamas and 78 dead bodies.
The convener of the organisation in the North West, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele said the survivors of the incident are going to require counselling and psychosocial support to reclaim their sanity as well as integrate back to their families and society.
“Nothing could have prepared our communities for the catastrophic outcomes that have exposed the modus operandi of the ruthless criminal syndicate that had enslaved mostly victims of human trafficking lured underground to their horrific deaths through falsehoods and deceit,” said Kgwele.
In addition, Kgwele said law enforcement officers and community volunteers who were part of the protracted rescue operation will also require debriefing and post-traumatic disorder counselling,
Kgwele pointed out that the nightmare of spending days with corpses underground must have seared the consciences, psychological and mental health of the arrested illegal miners.
He stressed that the greatest challenge going forward would be to stabilize the community through deliberate special intervention programmes targeting the unemployed, as well as creating job opportunities for an alternative viable local economy to restore hope.
“The mining sector and business investments must be mobilized to come on board in support of the government’s effort to earnestly kickstart a comprehensive programme for the rehabilitation of abandoned and disused mines.
Implementation of the artisan and small-scale mining initiative for the benefit of locals must without further delay be fast-tracked,” explained Kgwele.
The MRM has urged law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations that will unmask those who are responsible for the economic crimes as well as the causes of the miner’s deaths.