By Johnathan Paoli
The SA Police Service says it remains determined to continue ensuring the resurfacing of illegal miners in Stilfontein in the North West to bring an end to the stand-off between the police and the miners.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that that an alternative shaft, named Margaret, has been opened. So far, more than 500 illegal miners have been able to exit underground, and those remaining were refusing to exit in an attempt to avoid arrest.
“It is possible for them to exit through Margaret because we have seen in the past two weeks more than 500 exiting. We have proof that they are not trapped because if they were trapped, they would have indicated,” she said.
Mathe said that police officers had been stationed at all the abandoned shafts, but they were not stopping any of the miners, also known as zama zamas, from resurfacing.
“There is no blockage, there has never been a blockage. We have never prevented any illegal miners from exiting,” she said.
A multi-disciplinary response from the government was ensuring that each individual was treated as required, with some being sent to medical institutions under police arrest.
Meanwhile, the Society for the Protection of our Constitution’s court application against the state has been postponed to Thursday morning. This is to allow them time to respond to the state’s late replying affidavit.
The NGO approached the court to fully adjudicate an interim order it granted on Saturday for the assistance and full access to the remaining miners.
The court granted an interim order directing that the mine be unblocked and that emergency personnel be permitted access those who were underground.
So far 1187 miners have resurfaced.
Speaking after the postponement, the NGO’s legal counsel, Yasmin Omar, criticised the state for antagonising the situation, despite the dangerous nature of the situation.
She compared it to the 2012 Marikana massacre.
Omar said the society had gone to court to ensure access, supplies and medical care, especially in light of the remarks by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who said they were “criminals” and would be “smoked out”.
“It is no good for us to commemorate Marikana every year, when we are allowing for a situation where a significant number of lives are going to be lost, while we are watching,” Omar said.
She questioned what she described as “the state’s about turn”, in light of the xenophobic atmosphere, and growing apathy concerning the miners.
The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) has called for solidarity with the miners, in light of their fundamental human rights.
Macau national coordinator Meshack Mbangula said that despite their status of criminality, it did not preclude the right to food, health and human dignity.
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