Governance expert, Professor Sam Koma, says no country that would allow criminality and defiance to continue to rear its head without consequences.
Koma’s remarks come amid mixed reactions to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s utterances on illegal miners who have been refusing to come to the surface in Stilfontein, in the North West, fearing arrest.
The miners have reportedly run out of basic necessities and are said to have been surviving on a mixing salt, vinegar and toothpaste to survive.
Speaking at a post cabinet briefing earlier in the week, Ntshavheni said government will not be sending help to ‘criminals’ but will instead smoke them out.
Just to refresh our memories on who is refusing to resurface from Stillfontein shaft pic.twitter.com/lQwjpEzInb
— Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (@Khu_Ntshavheni) November 14, 2024
Three of the zama zamas emerged from underground this afternoon, hours after a body of one of their colleagues was retrieved.
This came a day after five others were rescued by community workers on Wednesday evening.
Workers union, Giwusa, says Ntshavheni’s remarks shows a lack of empathy.
The union’s Koketso Phasha says this issue is symptom of a broader economic crisis in the country.
Koma says the prevalence of illegal miners in the country needs to be urgently addressed.
To date, more than 1 000 illegal miners, many believed to be from neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, have resurfaced and arrested.
#sapsNW [UPDATE] Third illegal miner resurfacing just after 15:30 this afternoon. Two others resurfaced at another abandoned shaft today. The body of a decomposed body of an illegal miner was brought up earlier. Police have registered an inquest to investigate circumstances… https://t.co/6dbrZHOdUC pic.twitter.com/fxzJS3TnFy
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 14, 2024
Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says community members who volunteered to assist the miners have been warned of the potential dangers.
Mathe also refuted claims that there are over 4 000 illegal miners underground, describing it as an exaggeration.
Illegal mining affected communities took to the streets of Tshwane, calling for artisan mining to be regulated and supported.
Police and the army have been camping at these mines with the hope of ‘flushing out’ the illegal miners, who have been underground for months.
Community representative, Themba Botman, says the miners have been living under bad conditions and some are ill and have become weak.
There have been mixed reactions on social media over the unfolding tragedy.
Let Zama Zamas find their way out, let’s not risk the lives of our police men & women.#Abahambe pic.twitter.com/gF5RTSSM8b
— Patrick Sindane (@sindane3) November 14, 2024
If the government cannot control an organised group of taxi owners why do expect them to control unorganized zama zamas? If you go deep, you will find there is a senior politician benefitting by exploiting zama zamas.
— Paul Griffiths🇿🇦 (@PaulGri12459976) November 14, 2024
Please enlighten me again on the damage they cause to the economy..
Mind you, I’m not advocating for the zama zamas, but we as a country have a constitution, and we’re governed by it.
Anyways, why are we even discussing offing 4.5k+ people?— Lerroy Bruce (@LerroyB4eVa) November 14, 2024
Zama zamas terrorize all communities ,whether is west rand,FS,NW. Part of “community ” that’s assisting these things are benefitting from all their crimes
— dru7 (@theskydru7) November 14, 2024
💯… all these community leaders are the actual zama Zamas. All that have been interviewed are part of the operation
— StKijiko (@StKijiko) November 14, 2024
My message to the zama zamas who refuse to come out of their tunnels.#ZamaZama pic.twitter.com/TIc3sYXKEV
— Batibat (@XXgenX_) November 14, 2024
You mean other zama zamas went to retrieve their friends.
— Martin (@MARTIN_4CH) November 14, 2024
Every politically conscious person knows the amount of damage Zama Zamas cause not only to the economy but to local communities. Defending people who are refusing to get out because they fear arrest is insane.
We can send food to rural areas and poor people who actually need it
— Paballo Maseko❄️ (@Paballo_maseko_) November 14, 2024
When these Zama zamas terrorise local communities and rape women, you never say anything.
Now that they are in trouble, you see this as a political opportunity to score cheap points.— Tsitso09 (@tsitso09) November 14, 2024
It’s like saying those South Africans that you’re crying for, would kill you and your entire family and feel nothing. Just because someone is South African, doesn’t mean they go around killing people. The same is true for Zama Zamas. https://t.co/CAGcgdkFwy
— Pan_Africanist (@Mutwanamba_SA) November 14, 2024
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