An official rescue operation is set to commence on Tuesday morning to bring an unknown number of illegal miners to the surface from an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, North West Province.
The miners, known as zama zamas, are reportedly hiding in a disused shaft at the old Buffelsfontein mine, refusing to resurface due to fears of arrest. This has led to a standoff with law enforcement as authorities intensify their crackdown on illegal mining in the region.
In the past month, over 1,000 illegal miners have been arrested in the province as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, a targeted effort to curb illicit mining activities.
MEC for Community Safety in the North West, Wessels Morweng, confirmed that rescue teams are working to assess the situation underground and determine the resources required for the operation.
“We have systems in place to validate the number of miners underground, and this information will guide how the rescue plan unfolds and how long it will take to complete,” Morweng explained.
Once a clear understanding of the shaft’s condition and safety precautions is achieved, the technical phase of the operation will begin.
“The equipment to be used is a lift designed to bring the miners up. It’s as straightforward as that,” said Morweng.
While it remains unclear who will bear the cost of the rescue effort, Morweng noted that procurement processes have already been initiated to facilitate the operation.
This complex and resource-intensive mission underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing illegal mining, with significant financial and safety implications for all involved.
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