By Simon Nare
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has appealed to Stilfontein residents in the North West to approach the Mineral Resources Department to get permission to mine lawfully instead of embarking on illegal operations.
Mchunu was speaking to residents shortly after touring the area around the disused Buffelsfontein gold mine where hundreds of illegal miners are trapped.
He told community members on Friday that the department had artisanal programmes, which he urged them to explore.
It is believed that hundreds, possibly thousands, of illegal miners are trapped underground following the police blocking off shafts so that they no longer receive their food supply.
Community organisations have appealed for help, warning that some are starving to death.
Mchunu’s visit follows Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni causing a stir when she told the media on Wednesday that the government would not help “criminals” and the aim was to “smoke them out” from underground.
Mchunu told residents that they could not expect the government to provide solutions alone, and they would have to work on something together to deal with illegal mining and the current impasse.
He also said that community members must not view the government as the enemy, telling them that their suggestions had been noted.
He appealed to residents to allow him to arrange a meeting with Minerals Council South Africa which would involve them so that they could raise their views and also discuss illegal mining.
“Maybe [with] the Minerals Council and the presence of Department of Mineral and Resources, perhaps there can be some headway with regards to the illegal activities. In other words, doing things that you are doing that are unlawful but doing them lawfully,” he said.
Mchunu has warned residents that the police and army will remain deployed in the area and in six other provinces for another few months.
The SANDF has been deployed to help curb illegal mining as part of Operation Prosper.
Parliament’s defence committee was asked to approve the latest extension of the operation on Friday.
The SANDF reportedly said that it was still unclear where more than R140 million would come from to extend its deployment of 1100 soldiers until March, but communities living close to the abandoned mine shafts were reaping the benefits.
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