A decomposed body has been discovered at the disused Stilfontein mine shaft in the North West. Since 18 October, the police and SANDF, through Operation Vala Umgodi, have blocked food and water supply routes to the Stilfontein mine shaft, forcing illegal miners to resurface while others remained underground starved and dehydrated.

A COMPLEX SITUATION 

SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the discovery of a decomposed body. "We do have a decomposed body that was brought up this afternoon; circumstances surrounding how this individual or illegal miner died are under investigation," she said. Mathe added that the police have registered an inquest into the death and that the pathologists were at the scene. "Our detectives are also on the scene and the necessary crime scene experts to take over the crime scene," she said. She emphasised the complexity of the operation, saying that over 1000 illegal miners resurfaced since yesterday, with more still underground. "We can confirm that as of this afternoon, a total of 1173 illegal miners have since resurfaced from yesterday," said Mathe.

BEHIND MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE

Mathe said as national they went to North West to reaffirm their support to the men in blue on the ground, as well as the members of the SANDF. "We are in support of this particular operation; I think as a caring government we have gone to great lengths to get these illegal miners to resurface on their own safely; we have gone as far as trying to communicate with them, sending flyers down there and so on," said Mathe. She said community members were stepping in and demanding to go and rescue the illegal miners themselves. "We are indemnifying them and making them sign indemnity forms as a way of exempting ourselves. We have taken them through the dangers and the consequences of doing so, but like I've indicated, as a caring government, we've gone to great lengths. This is a complex operation and time and again we will be advised on what is the right thing to do. So we are in rescue mode," she concluded.