There has been progress at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein in North West as seventeen illegal miners resurfaced from a shaft this afternoon. Of the 17 illegal miners, 14 resurfaced from Margaret Shaft and three at Shaft No. 10. Fourteen of the miners who resurfaced from Margaret Shaft are foreign nationals from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 

TO FACE THE LAW

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone emphasised that upon resurfacing, the illegal miners are processed and arrested. On Wednesday, 34 illegal miners who resurfaced on Sunday and Monda made a brief appearance at the Stilfontein Magistrate's Court. The illegal miners appeared in two groups and were charged with illegal mining and contravening the Immigration Act. "The first group included 14 illegal Mozambican miners who were arrested after resurfacing at Shaft 10 on Sunday. The second group of 20 Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and South Africans were arrested on Monday at Margaret Shaft, located less than 10 km from shafts 10 and 11, where most miners are located," Mokgwabone said.

SOLID PLAN IN PLACE

So far, the police have confirmed that more than 1200 zama zamas have been arrested in Stilfontein since the police and soldiers started the Vala Mgodi Operations in the area. Today, around 300 illegal miners are appearing in the Stilfontein Magistrate's Court facing charges of illegal mining and contravening the Immigration Act. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and various stakeholders are in Stilfontein today to obtain a progress report on measures that will lead to the resurfacing of illegal miners remaining underground. An unconfirmed number of zama zamas are still underground.