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FILE | Illegal miners
Concerned residents of Khuma and Stilfontein in the North West have resolved to go underground to retrieve illegal mine workers.
They say they are concerned about their health and safety. Locals say about 4 500 illegal mine workers are still underground.
A volunteer from the community was lowered by ropes into one of the mine shafts on Tuesday to assess the situation.
About 1 000 illegal mine workers have emerged from underground since the middle of October after police and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) stopped the supply of essentials to those mining illegally.
Community members say they will stay at the shaft until everybody has been accounted for.
“We came to this point that we are going to support [law enforcement authorities] and our call is one. We just want to save lives regardless of which state, which land. What is important for us is just to save lives of those people who are trapped under ground.”
“We are hurting as residents of Khuma, because the police closed the holes [illegal mines] … they do not want these children to get food. The situation underground is very serious.”
According to a community representative Thembile Botman they need to plan their rescue properly.
“Right now, there is no plan of going down and retrieving the bodies, right now the person that we have sent he came with the information of which we must plan on it with the authorities. We also request the other departments that are stakeholders to come closer so that we work together to save lives.”
North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone says their presence at the shaft is to assist those illegal miners trapped underground.
“The main purpose for us to be here is to make sure that we assist them to come out but on the basis of the health conditions. It is apparent that they will need to get something that can give them strength so that at least they are able to pull them up,” adds Mokgwabone.
Police emphasized that the situation underground is quite dangerous and it is unclear how the planned rescue operation will unfold.
