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An illicit mining van of the South African Police Service is pictured in Stilfontein in the North West on 13 November 2024.
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are today expected to start the second phase of an operation to bring to surface illegal miners still underground at Shaft 11 of the Stilfontein mine in the North West.
The aim is to determine the number of illegal mineworkers who are still underground and plan to bring them to the surface on Monday.
Yesterday, police in the province raised concerns over incidents of extortion targeting contractors working to clear the site.
Meanwhile, the families of some of the illegal miners are pleading with government to retrieve their loved ones from underground.
Community representatives are still adamant that there are thousands of illegal miners underground, who have to be retrieved, whilst government has refuted that.
While government retrieval operation is being taken through stages, families say their loved ones are in dire need of food, water and medication.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions, Zwelinzima Vavi, says they stand in solidarity with the families.
“Between Tuesday and today, no one has been rescued, no one has got any food, water or medicine. People will probably die even though they used to be there for three to six months but without any supply of food, water and medicine, they will probably die without any efforts to bring them to the surface. They will die underground, and that’s why SAFTU says there is an unfolding tragedy.”
