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SAPS Operation Vala Umgodi clamps down on illegal mining in the Northern Cape.
Volunteers in Khuma near Stilfontein in the North West will today resume their rescue operation to bring illegal miners to the surface at a disused mine.
So far, they have brought 12 illegal miners to the surface.
The operation started on Wednesday last week.
The High Court in Pretoria granted an interim order, allowing emergency personnel access to the disused shaft to help those who are underground and to allow the illegal miners to exit.
Human Rights lawyer Mametlwe Sebei says poverty is the cause of illegal mining.
He says although the illegal miners are committing a crime, their rights to life and safety are enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
Sebei says, “These are people committing a crime of poverty. Many of these mine workers that are actually involved are actually forming a company that already has been registered, in actual fact, I’m told they were given one mine dump and they are in the course of regularising and applying the thing.”
“Obviously, in the absence of state support, particularly with equipment, access to capital, and the market, most importantly, what you have is organised criminal syndicates that have now entered that vehicle and what they do they’re terrorising communities, engage in acts of violent murders, rapes, and all these horrific criminal activity,” he adds.
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