Plans underway to retrieve Stilfontein illegal miners

North West Community Safety MEC, Wessels Morweng, says a rescue team will be deployed to retrieve hundreds of illegal miners trapped underground in Stilfontein, with operations potentially starting tomorrow.

The illegal miners, who have been underground for months, face serious health risks.

The retrieval efforts face significant technical challenges due to the mine’s 2km depth, requiring specialised machinery and lifts to facilitate the operation.

“Once we’ve addressed certain technicalities like the finances, the team can start as soon as tomorrow and it will take them two days,” says the MEC.

A desperate plea for medication, specifically ARV pills, was sent to the surface on Monday, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Court Lieutenant General, Tebello Mosikili, assured the nation that law enforcement officials will provide necessary medication, including ARVs, in a coordinated manner.

“We need to give the necessary medication that will ensure the safety of life. If the ARVs are one of the requests… it will be sent in a very coordinated manner,” she said.

Initially, the South African government had said it would not be assisting the scores of miners who remain underground, some fearing arrest should they resurface.

The authorities’ change of heart comes after a high court judgment on Saturday, which ordered the reopening of the mine for emergency services following an impasse between police and miners.

Law enforcement authorities have, however, emphasised that the rescued illegal miners will face the full might of the law.

MEC Morweng stressed that the illegal miners would be arrested.

“Criminals are criminals, they will be arrested. People must not have selective amnesia. Not so long ago the ( Zama zamas) raped young girls in Gauteng that were shooting a music video. These are people that are cruel,” the MEC said.

Meanwhile, Community leader, Mandla Charles, has expressed concerns about equipment safety, calling for increased resources to support rescue efforts.