Police in the North West have retracted earlier claims that extortion attempts had hindered efforts to rescue illegal miners from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein.
Last week, reports surfaced that authorities were investigating a local community leader accused of demanding a 30% cut from a team of rescuers deployed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.
Contractors at the site are working to formulate a plan to bring the illegal miners, known as zama zamas, to the surface and dismantle the extensive underground network that has been operational for years. The operation, recently initiated, is reportedly costing over R1 million per day.
However, Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing Patrick Asaneng has dismissed the extortion allegations, labeling them as baseless distractions.
“None of the mine rescue teams has ever reported being approached with extortion demands,” Asaneng stated. “This narrative is unfounded. For us as police, it’s like chasing ghosts. Such claims sidetrack us and detract from our focus on addressing the real issues at hand.”
The rescue and shutdown operation continues, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to resolving the long-standing illegal mining activities in the region.
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