Stilfontein: 26 more suspected ‘zama zamas’ resurface
The suspected illegal miners resurfaced from the Margaret and 10 shafts in the North West mining town.
All 26 illegal miners, who had resurfaced since Monday, were placed under arrest for illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002.
“Of the 26 illegal miners, four resurfaced at Margaret Shaft and 22 at Buffelsfontein shaft no 10,” explained North West police spokesperson Adele Myburgh.
According to police, the group comprised of nine from Lesotho, four Zimbabweans, nine from Mozambique and four South Africans.
“In addition to the stipulated charges, one of the suspects will be charged for possession of gold bearing material and one suspect was found in possession of explosives,” Myburgh added.
READ: Stilfontein: 27 minors linked to illegal mining repatriated
All of the suspects were processed and were set to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 27 December 2024.
More than 1 400 suspected illegal miners have resurfaced since police intensified the anti-illicit mining operation, “Vala Umgodi”, in the area in August.
At least 12 bodies have also been recovered by community volunteers at the abandoned gold mine since November.
Concerned non-profit organsations hava failed in two court bids to compel government to provide humanitarian aid to the miners who remain underground.
The exact number of people at the disused Buffelsfontein mine remains unknown.
DEATH AND DESPERATION
In the latest letter sent up by the miners at Shaft 11, the suspected illegal miners say more people have fallen ill from the lack of food underground.
They also allege that an unknown number of suspected illegal miners had fallen to their death while trying to resurface from shaft 10.
READ MORE: 6 more ‘starved’ miners emerge in Stilfontein
The note, which is written in a mix of isiZulu and isiXhosa, the author says they have resorted to cannibalism out of desperation.
“We are also eating human flesh who are also falling from shaft 10 because of starvation. Please, we request assistance, there are a lot people here underground. We request food, we have run out,” reads the translation sent by the General Industries Workers Union of SA.
Giwusa has been calling for government to do more to rescue the miners, including implementing the third and final phase of the proposed government-led rescue plan.
As it stands, the courts have ordered that police and other government departments must allow community-led efforts to lower food, water and medicine to the miners.
Volunteers have also retrieved the deceased and sickly using a makeshift pulley system.
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