Rescue operations at the Stilfontein mine shaft in North West Province have intensified following an urgent order by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
Story Summary:
- The Gauteng High Court has mandated emergency access to the Stilfontein mine shaft to rescue trapped illegal miners.
- Two more miners have been rescued, adding to the growing number brought to the surface amid worsening underground conditions.
- The government maintains its stance on illegal mining, implementing stricter measures while addressing humanitarian concerns.
Court order calls for escalation of rescue efforts at Stilfontein site
The ruling requires authorities to reopen access routes at the disused mine to allow emergency services to assist hundreds of illegal miners trapped underground.
The Society for the Protection of Our Constitution successfully sought the interdict, emphasising the humanitarian crisis posed by the deteriorating conditions underground.
The court also scheduled a follow-up hearing for next week to address the broader implications of the case.
The order has been met with mixed reactions. While the rescue operations bring relief to many, government officials, including Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, have reiterated their hardline stance against aiding illegal miners.
“We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be prosecuted,” Ntshavheni said.
Miners rescued as conditions worsen
Rescue teams have already pulled two miners to the surface since the court order.
Both individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital after being found severely dehydrated and weak.
Earlier this week, the decomposed body of another miner was retrieved from the same mine, highlighting the dire conditions faced by those still underground.
According to Meshack Mbangula, national coordinator for Mining Affected Communities United in Action, volunteers are using ropes to assist trapped miners.
“We saw the volunteers coming in today. They threw the rope down and managed to pull up one person. He’s alive but very weak,” Mbangula said.
While over 1,000 illegal miners have surfaced voluntarily since “Operation Vala Umgodi” (Close the Hole) began, many remain underground, facing hunger, dehydration, and safety risks.
To date, authorities have arrested more than 1,000 miners, many of whom are foreign nationals.
However, activists argue that the government’s hardline measures fail to address the socio-economic drivers of illegal mining, leaving vulnerable individuals to face life-threatening conditions.
