Illegal miners need food to regain strength to emerge: SAHRC

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says while illegal mining is a criminal offence, it is important to note that those who are still underground in Stilfontein in the North West need food to regain strength to emerge.

North West police have said that 1 420 illegal miners have come to the surface since November.

This as others continue to send letters of demand stating that they are running short of food, medicine and paraffin.

The miners also say that there are sick people who need urgent medical assistance.

Human Rights Commissioner Professor Tshepo Madlingozi says though they are engaged in criminal activity, their human rights must be protected.

“The longer there’s a stand-off, one in the sense that people are unable to emerge because they’re weak. But number two, they are scared to merge because they are scared to be arrested. I’m scared that we will talk about a mass grave there. So it’s really a difficult balance, you cannot supply food indefinitely, we are very clear about that.”

“But we are saying at a humanitarian level, not the state but the community volunteers should be allowed to provide necessities that will enable those people to emerge,” says Madlingozi.

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