Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has come forward to say that the South African Police Service is not obligated nor is it in their jurisdiction to administer ARVs to illegal miners who refuse to resurface from the disused Stilfontein mine. Motsoaledi said he does not understand the legal basis for the SAPS to issue ARVs to the zama zamas because for such to happen, policy needs to be followed.

ARVs ARE NOT SAPS BUSINESS

Motsoaledi said ARVs are not over-the-counter medication, as they are administered from a doctor to a patient or a nurse to a patient following particular policies and standards. "They can't just be distributed like food, water or vitamins. That is exactly what I was discussing with the police minister. Earlier in the week, SAPS promised that ARVs would be sent down to the illegal miners, but that's not how it works. I don't know how it's going to work because who do you send ARVs to? For one to be given chronic medication, you need to be examined by the doctor and then have the prescribed medication given to you. So in this case, under whose name will the ARVs come out? Where will they come from? Also, what will they be treating because we don't know the diagnosis of anybody down there?" he asked.

ORDERED BY COURT 

On Monday, a volunteer sent down the rope used to help willing illegal miners resurface, but when he pulled it up, the rope had a note attached to it. "Sicela amaARV pills, please; abantu baya wadinga ngapha. siyacela bandla. (We are pleading for ARVs. People need them down here," read the note. Deputy Police Commissioner ,Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, said the police will make sure that the illegal miners get the medication as per the Pretoria High Court interim order on Saturday, which ordered that the SAPS allow rescue teams space to do their jobs and to allow supplies of food and water to reach illegal miners underground. "The court order stated that we give necessary medication that will ensure the safety of life; if the ARVs have been requested, it will be given to the illegal miners. We have indicated that it will be done in a very coordinated manner."