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Application to supply basic necessities to illegal Stilfontein miners dismissed

───   KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 13:26 Mon, 25 Nov 2024

Application to supply basic necessities to illegal Stilfontein miners dismissed | News Article
Stilfontein mine shaft. Photo: Facebook

The North Gauteng high court in Pretoria has dismissed an urgent application brought by the Society for the Protection of our Constitution to have mineshafts at Stilfontein unblocked and provide emergency supplies to illegal miners.

The application, filed on Saturday (16/11), requested an interim court order to compel government departments, including police, to allow food, water, medical aid, blankets, and any necessary emergency relief to be provided to zama zamas. The high court had initially mandated the reopening of a mine shaft, restricting entry to emergency personnel.

However, on Monday (25/11), the court ruled in favour of the ministers of cooperative governance, police, health, and mineral resources.

Police officers had not violated any constitutional rights, particularly the rights to life and dignity, said national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe. They have “never blocked any shaft nor prevented illegal miners from exiting through disused mine shafts”.

Over the past few weeks, 1,239 illegal miners have voluntarily resurfaced. One Sunday night (24/11), 14 illegal miners, including a 14-year-old, exited shaft 10 at Stilfontein.

Illegal miners still underground were avoiding arrest, rather than being physically trapped, she said. Limited food and water supplies, such as instant porridge and mageu, had been allowed underground in recent weeks. Medical personnel have been on standby to treat those who resurface.


Police remained “committed to upholding the rule of law while ensuring that emergency services are available when needed”, she said.

Mathe said police would continue to deploy static units as part of Operation Vala Umgodi (“close the hole” in isiZulu) to disrupt illegal mining activities. The operation has led to the arrest of more than a thousand suspected illegal miners.

Authorities are expected to provide updates on the operation and any further rescue efforts.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg

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