North West Police are confident that their rescue mission to retrieve the suspected illegal miners who are still underground at the unused shaft in Stilfontein near Klerksdorp will commence soon. Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone told Newsnote that their preparations are well underway, and the next phase of the plan will commence anytime.
“At the moment we are basically implementing the rescue operation plan of the committee which is led by MEC (Wessels Morweng – Community Safety). Already what we call groundwork has been done, then clearing of the
site was done on Wednesday and the clearing of the site was done today (Thursday),” said Mokgwabone.
In addition, Mokgwabone said they’re still waiting for the final determination of the plan which will be communicated with the media. When asked by Newsnote about reports that some of the stakeholders were illegal mining kingpins and operating tuckshops underground, Mokgwabone refused to confirm the allegations.
“I cannot at this stage confirm if that is true or not. Allegations are allegations and I won’t be also confirming whether we are investigating that or not,” explained Mokgwabone, adding that they’ll however investigate if there are suspicions that they’re involved in the crime.
More than a thousand of the zama zamas resurfaced earlier this month from the shaft and are reported to be illegal foreigners from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. Mokgwabone confirmed that 84 illegal miners were processed and charged for contravening the Immigration Act and have since been deported to their countries.