Stilfontein’s Illegal Mining Standoff: Weekend Food Supply Halted Amid Rescue Efforts
By Thobeka Makume
Illegal miners at Shaft 11 at a mine in Stilfontein in the North West will no longer be provided with food and water at weekends. That’s according to the provincial police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh. The number of illegal miners that are still underground remains unknown. Yesterday morning, six illegal miners who are Mozambicans resurfaced from the shaft of the old and abandoned Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.
Myburg says there has been a change in the order of the High Court in Pretoria regarding the provision of emergency aid to the illegal miners. “There was a little bit of a change on these limitations that were put in place from Friday, to say that food and water will be supplied but only over weekdays from Monday to Friday between 8:00 to 16:00. No food will be allowed to be lowered on weekends. Furthermore, they also put a limitation on to say that hazardous substances this includes paraffin, gas, diesel, that will not be allowed to be lowered down to illegal miners.”
The miners, referred to locally as “zama zamas,” can now only expect food and water from Monday to Friday, as mandated by the new court order. This decision is part of a broader strategy by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to discourage the continuation of illegal mining activities. The police argue that providing supplies undermines their efforts under Operation Vala Umgodi, which aims to eradicate illicit mining.
Due to this court order, a community-led operation to bring miners to the surface has been temporarily halted over the weekend, with plans to resume on Monday. Those miners who have managed to emerge from the underground have described desperate and dangerous conditions.
Recent Developments and Community Response:
- National Commissioner’s Visit: On December 5, 2024, General Fannie Masemola visited Stilfontein, highlighting the complexities involved in the rescue due to the depth of the mine shafts. Comparing it with the Sabie operation, he noted that the Stilfontein shaft reaches down 2km, posing significant challenges and risks.
- Legal and Logistical Considerations: The SAPS has emphasized that police are not trained for such rescue operations, pointing out the need for specialized services which require substantial funding, including a 100% upfront payment for rescue services.
- Humanitarian and Legal Challenges: The North Gauteng High Court has been central to the legal tussles over the provision of aid to miners. The court’s interim order on December 1, which initially allowed for unrestricted supply, was adjusted due to concerns raised by SAPS about the operational impact of continuous supply.
- Casualties and Rescues: The retrieval of six bodies in the last 24 hours underscores the perilous environment underground. Over the weeks, 1,387 miners have resurfaced, with the majority being foreign nationals, illustrating the multinational nature of this illegal mining network.
- Supplies Provided: Before the new court order, significant amounts of food, water, and other necessities were sent down, with detailed accounts of what was lowered into the mine.
Crackdown on Illegal Mining Leaders:
The SAPS has made notable strides in tackling the kingpins behind these operations:
- Recent Arrests: Notable arrests include Joacham Chivayo and Ayanda Gungwa with substantial amounts of unwrought gold, Loren Louw on extensive money laundering charges, and the Mitchell brothers for chrome theft without a permit.
- Asset Seizures: Preservation orders on vehicles and properties linked to illegal mining figures from Khutsong and Carletonville demonstrate a comprehensive approach to dismantle these networks.
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