Miners resurfacing in Stilfontein, with NGO warning of another Marikana

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