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A police van is pictured at a mine in Stilfontein where illegal miners are underground in this image captured on 25 November 2024.
A community leader in Stilfontein in the North West, Thembile Botman, says he’s optimistic that a number of organisations will today start to donate emergency aid to take to the illegal miners that are in a mine shaft.
The High Court in Pretoria recently granted the organisation Mining Affected Communities United in Action an urgent interdict.
The court ordered the provincial government to ensure that emergency aid including food, water and medication is provided.
However, the Community Safety MEC Wessels Morweng, says he’s studying the court order.
Botman says the illegal miners need urgent help.
“We’ve been around asking the organisations that were prepared to give aid in terms of water, porridge and light meals so that we can send medication. So many organisations have shown an interest to help. And then we must also get the rope and everything to send the food down.”
Meanwhile, Community members in Stilfontein have started sending food and water to illegal miners, who are still underground in Shaft 11.
Community representative, Johannes Qankase, says residents are mobilising donations to provide aid to the illegal miners.
He says they have been collecting food and water from community members.
