As more than 4,500 illegal miners remain underground at abandoned mines in Stilfontein in North West with no access to food or water, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavei said they will not be sending any help to them.
THEY WILL NOT BE HELPED
Ntshaveni said this while briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held last week. When asked if the government would send any help to the illegal miners who have been trapped underground for weeks since the police have stopped the delivery of food and basics to the zama zamas as part of Operation Vala Mgodi, Ntshaveni said they will not be sending any help to criminals. "We are not sending any help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out," she said, implying that the police will fire teargas to force the illegal miners out. She added that criminals are not to be helped but that they must be prosecuted. "We didn't send them there. They didn't go down there for the benefit or good intentions of the Republic, so we can't help. Those who want to help them must go and take the food down there. They will come out and we will arrest them," she said.
APPROACH THE SITUATION WITH HUMANITY
Speaking to Newzroom Africa, community leader Johannes Qankase said all they wanted was for the miners to be saved, as everyone has a right to live. "Yesterday, we sent a volunteer down there who confirmed that some are critically ill while others are dead. We are not sure how many people will be able to come out because it is about two kilometres to the exit from where they are. It takes about 45 minutes to take just one person. Every person has a right to life; all we are asking is that people come out, dead or alive, and the police will do their jobs when the people are outside," Qankase said.
MINERS URGED TO COME OUT
Meanwhile, the Operation Vala Umgodi task team in North West has once again called upon the zama zamas who are still underground to return to the surface. Brigadier Sebata Mokgwabone said in line with safeguarding lives, the SAPS and SANDF have allowed for water and food to be delivered to those underground so that they can safely resurface. "The SAPS calls on these illegal miners to resurface so that they can get relevant help or aid, including any medical attention that may be required. We appeal to the community in the area to allow the police space to do their job. The SAPS will not allow criminality to thrive," Mokgwabone said. He added that the police and other safety officials will remain in place until all illegal miners resurface and are arrested.
