The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) staged a powerful protest at the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources on Wednesday, delivering a symbolic coffin to honour artisanal miners who have lost their lives.

The demonstration highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by zama zamas, with demonstrators demanding justice, accountably and formal recognition to protect their rights and ensure their contributions benefit local communities.

Macua national coordinator Meshack Mbangula told the hundreds of protesters gathered at Jubilee Park in Pretoria where the march started, that they were going to deliver a signed coffin to the department, awarding it for the deaths of miners.

“We are going to give that coffin to DMPR; reason being… they have been killing us, whether [it’s] pollution, contaminated water, poverty… so we are going to take that coffin and put messages there and award them,” he said.

Mbangula said that in the past, Macua had delivered a list of demands to the department, but the dire situation for mining communities remained the same.

A representative of the Women Affected by Mining United in Action, Daisy Tshabangu, pleaded for compassion and leniency from Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe for the Stilfontein community in the North West.

This follows hundreds of miners being trapped underground and many of them dying after the government and police blocked mine shafts to stop illegal miners accessing food and supplies to force them to resurface.

“Gwede Mantashe, wherever you are, let our words not fall on deaf ears. Please show mercy to the people of Stilfontein. And the police from Stilfontein; please make a difference. Have a conscious and do not kill our brothers,” she said.

General Industries Workers Union of SA president Mametlwe Sebei described the events at Stilfontein as a massacre, saying the deaths were not an accident.

He said the deaths were the result of the police acting under the instructions of the mining capitalists and corporations collaborating with the government.

“When you listen to the Gwedes of this world, you will be mistaken to believe that those miners who came underground emaciated, dehydrated, who are the ratchet of the earth, are the problem we have in the mining industry, and not the big monopolies that have monopolised the ownership of the minerals, the exploitation of the minerals and the mining industry.

“And have concentrated in their hands, an enormous amount of wealth at a time when [South Africa has] devastating levels of unemployment, poverty, lack of development, hunger and starvation in our communities in the midst of the wealth and the wonders that our land and our labour produces,” he said.

Macua once again called for artisanal miners, also knowns as zama zamas, to be recognised and incorporated into the formal economy.

Mbangula told Inside Politics that foreign investors continued to exploit local mineral resources, extracting wealth while leaving communities in poverty.

He said it was an unjust system that sidelined artisanal miners, who struggled to make a living.

“We want to see zama zamas being formalised and be able to contribute to the economy of the country and be able to put bread on the table. And not having the so-called investors who are coming to loot minerals without benefiting us, and taking them to the Western countries,” he said.

One of the miners who was trapped underground at Stilfontein, Ayanda Ndabeni, said he could not criticise the police for following orders. Instead, he held the government and those in higher echelons of power responsible.

He condemned their decision to use force against the zama zamas, whom he said were merely trying to survive and make a living.

“Today, [it is] said that we were killed by the police. We were killed by… the government [who people voted for] to represent our interests. They instead sent police on us; that they kill us because they have labelled us criminals,” he said.

“Blood has to spill for them to hear our cries and give in to our demands,” Ndabeni said.

Mantashe is in Cape Town where he attended the African Mining Indaba.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Macua honours slain Stilfontein miners with coffin protest appeared first on Inside Politic.

The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) has called on communities to unite across formal and informal sectors and challenge systemic injustices and build a movement capable of achieving true accountability and justice.

Speaking during the 2nd Annual Marginalised and Affected Communities Summit, Macua executive director Christopher Rutledge underscored the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability within the country’s mining sector.

“By uniting formal and informal struggles, shifting narratives and building a resilient, multi-class coalition, grounded in strong grassroots organisation, our movement can transcend the limitations seen in the response to Stilfontein and create a foundation for lasting change,” Rutledge said in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The summit brought together activists, community leaders and stakeholders committed to challenging the unchecked power of mining corporations and advocating for the rights of those most impacted by extractive industries.

It follows the recent Stilfontein humanitarian crisis at a disused gold mine in the North West that made world headlines after hundreds of illegal miners were tapped underground, with many of them dying. Macua, along with Lawyers for Human Rights and other community organisations played a critical role in ensuring that the remaining miners were rescued, and the bodies of the dead retrieved from underground.

Rutledge highlighted Macua’s unwavering commitment to hold mining companies and the state accountable for their environmental, social and economic impacts.

He detailed the organisation’s multi-faceted approach, ranging from protests and petitions to legal actions, which has compelled companies to respect community rights, prioritise environmental rehabilitation and contribute meaningfully to local development.

A significant victory in this campaign has been the impending amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, a direct result of its persistent advocacy for stronger protections, mandatory consultations and tangible community benefits.

Rutledge drew critical parallels between the 2012 Marikana massacre and the more recent events at Stilfontein, framing both as emblematic of systemic exploitation under capitalism.

While Marikana exposed the violent suppression of organised labour by the state in collusion with corporations, Stilfontein illuminated the criminalisation and brutal subjugation of the most marginalised, the “zama zamas” or artisanal miners.

He described Marikana’s miners as formal workers demanding better wages, while Stilfontein’s zama zamas represented the precarious underclass forced into hazardous informal labour.

Both cases revealed capitalism’s inherent exploitation of labour, whether within or outside formal economic structures.

In both “massacres”, Rutledge argued that the state acted as an enforcer of capitalist interests.

In Marikana, police violence protected corporate profits, while at Stilfontein, the state’s siege tactics upheld property rights over humanitarian concerns, demonstrating the state’s role in perpetuating systemic inequality.

Rutledge emphasised how both events epitomised the dehumanisation of workers under capitalism.

While Marikana miners were alienated from the wealth they created, Stilfontein’s miners were excluded entirely from formal economic recognition, with their lives treated as disposable in the face of property protection.

Marikana and Stilfontein, Rutledge asserted, revealed the deepening contradictions of capitalism, the former through the suppression of organised labour, and the latter through the violent exclusion of those left behind by formal economies.

He stressed the importance of building a unified, resilient working-class movement to confront these systemic injustices.

He outlined strategies for bridging the gaps between formal and informal labour struggles, shifting public narratives to humanise marginalised groups and strengthening grassroots organising.

Rutledge called for expanded advocacy to include informal workers like artisanal miners, and fostering shared platforms for unions and community organisations to align their struggles against systemic inequality.

He highlighted the need to counter the stigmatisation of groups like zama zamas through media campaigns and cultural tools that humanised their struggles and exposed structural exclusions.

Rutledge also emphasised the role of local leadership training, youth engagement and fostering community networks to build a robust, sustainable movement.

He advocated for multi-sector partnerships, cross-class unity, and international solidarity to amplify the fight against extractivism and neoliberal capitalism.

Rutledge concluded with a call to develop community-controlled enterprises, sustainable development models and legal frameworks to hold corporations and the state accountable, leveraging technology and media to amplify these efforts.

The fight, he emphasised, was not just about mining, it was about the broader struggle for dignity, equality and the right to a sustainable future for all South Africans.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Formal and informal mining: Two sides of the same coin: Macua appeared first on Inside Politic.

Rescue operations at the abandoned Stilfontein mine, where hundreds of illegal miners were trapped, have come to an end after no further signs of life were detected on Thursday.

Since Monday, 246 miners have been rescued and 78 bodies retrieved from the North West mine.

Mine Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie confirmed that a final sweep of the shafts found no additional survivors or bodies in shaft 11.

“Last night, we came out with the last cage and confirmed that all the people have been taken out,” said Fourie.

“This morning, we conducted a final sweep to ensure no one who may have been unaware of the operation remained underground, but no signs of movement or life were detected.”

Advanced equipment, including cameras and sound detectors, were used to survey the mine, reaching depths of over 2100m. Fourie reported that the only visible remnants were discarded miners’ cap lamps and water at the lowest levels.

While the rescue phase winds down, attention now turns to recovery and closure efforts. 

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe emphasised that authorities would remain on-site as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, which was aimed at combating illicit mining and preventing further unauthorised access to the shaft.

“We will leave only once this hole is sealed and rehabilitated,” Mathe stated.

“Leaving prematurely would risk the reoccupation of the mine, leading to a repeat of this tragic situation.”

Mathe added that a decision on formally ending the rescue operation lay with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and other stakeholders.

At the scene, Zimbabwe Consul-General Eria Phiri highlighted the consulate’s role in supporting efforts to identify and assist survivors and the deceased.

“Our major responsibility in this case is the identification, verification and profiling of individuals involved,” Phiri explained.

“We will start with the verification and identification of the 465 (Zimbabweans) who were rescued alive, using their information to establish who among them is Zimbabwean and who might still be unaccounted for.

“For those who perished, we will coordinate with our head office to ensure their repatriation so they can receive a dignified burial in Zimbabwe. We are taking this step by step, as most of the deceased were undocumented, which makes the process more complex.”

North West Acting Police Commissioner Patrick Asaneng confirmed that local authorities were collaborating with international consulates to ensure proper identification and accountability.

The police have requested assistance from the embassies of Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique to identify the bodies retrieved from Shaft 11.

“Following international protocols, we are working with consulates, including Zimbabwe, to assist in identifying mortal remains and survivors,” said Asaneng.

“The Zimbabwean consulate is helping to verify identities, as many of those trapped or deceased were undocumented and entered the country illegally.

“A team from the consulate will assist in profiling the survivors and deceased to better understand the situation and provide closure for their families,” Asaneng added.

North West SA National Civic Organisation spokesperson Mzukisi Jam reported a higher death toll than previously confirmed, stating that 78 bodies had been retrieved from the shaft by rescue teams, but an additional 11 bodies were recovered independently by volunteers using ropes.

“The total number of deaths is already more than 109,” said Jam.

“Our volunteers have also confirmed that at shaft number 10, there are more bodies, but it is challenging for the crane or cage to reach that area to retrieve them. This means the true number of fatalities may still increase.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said it had delivered an official letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the disaster.

The DA’s James Lorimer emphasised the need for a full and transparent investigation into the causes and consequences of the crisis.

“The mine has become the site of a devastating humanitarian catastrophe… A comprehensive inquiry is essential to uncover the failures of government agencies, the role of the private sector and the impact of illegal mining on the community and mine operations,” he said.

Labour unions and community members have described the Stilfontein crisis as the worst state-sponsored massacre since the end of apartheid.

Community leader Thembile Botman criticised the government’s approach, saying that Operation Vala Umgodi intentionally forced miners into a life-threatening situation. 

“These people didn’t die because of illegal mining. They died because of government actions. Section 11 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and dignity, and these people were denied both,” Botman said.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Stilfontein rescue operation called off appeared first on Inside Politic.

An operation by Mine Rescue Services to rescue illegal miners at Stilfontein in the North West is expected to start late on Monday or Tuesday, following intervention by the courts.

Ahead of the rescue, the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) and the Mineral Resources and Energy Department have been involved in a public spat over the rescue of the miners.

Hundreds of the miners are still underground since the police cut off supplies to them in August last year in an attempt to force them to resurface.

Macua on Sunday responded to claims by the department that it was in contempt of the court and its own voluntary decision to rescue the trapped miners.

Macua spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele urged the department to stop its political posturing and games, and instead focus on its mandate to “work with us to ensure the safe retrieval of those trapped underground”.

“If these state agencies had been committed to save lives, there would not have been a need for Macua to approach the High Court… to force these state agencies to allow food to be delivered down and to retrieve the trapped miners,” Mndebele said.

This follows a statement by the department which claimed that the state was appraising the court of the ongoing efforts by its agencies since December.

The department said that the decision to deploy rescue services was made independently and prior to the urgent application brought by Macua.

“This decision reflects unwavering commitment from the government and the sector, represented by the Minerals Council of South Africa, to facilitate the exit of those illegal miners who remain underground,” the department said.

However, Mndebele said that while the matter was under judicial management and not an order per se, state action was as a result of litigation by Macua through Lawyers for Human Rights.

In addition, he called for an amendment of mining laws, which have been abused and imposed on communities, in order to ensure that this kind of tragedy never happened again.

Meanwhile, the Mine Rescue Services (MRS) has confirmed the commencement of rescue operations at Shafts 10 and 11.

Mndebele said that the MRS received instruction from the department to save the trapped miners.

“As far as I understand, they’re still building the structure for the professional rescue. The rescue operations will take place for some days to come. It will not be done in one day,” Mndebele said.

MRS CEO Mannas Fourie said over the weekend that the road to the shafts as well as the surrounding ground area were being prepared to allow trucks and machinery to come through.

Fourie said that the ground works should be completed by Sunday evening or Monday morning to set up the rescue machine by Monday afternoon, and hoped not to be interrupted by rain.

A winder would be set up with a hoist to lower a cage underground.

Fourie said the cage would be able to hold six people at a time, maybe seven, depending on the size and weight of the miners, and that the cage would go down every hour.

He said that someone was required to be in the cage when it descended in order to open the gate and help miners in. Two community members have volunteered to do so.

Mndebele said that the MRS suggested that the bodies be retrieved first before the miners, since neither they nor the police were willing to retrieve them.

The hours of the operation are expected to run from 6am to 6pm.

The MRS will provide volunteers who are going underground with personal protective equipment to ensure their safety, as well as body bags for the deceased.

Macua said approximately 400 to 900 miners were still trapped underground. It has estimated that there are 100 bodies, however, miners are dying on a daily basis.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Rescue efforts for Stilfontein miners underway appeared first on Inside Politic.

Operations to rescue trapped miners at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein in the North West are set to begin following an order from the Pretoria high court.

The Mining Affected Communities United in Action has welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele confirming the court’s ruling that rescue operations begin at shafts 10 and 11.

“The court has ordered the State to finalise and send a Service Level Agreement and Letter of Appointment to Mine Rescue Services (MRS), and to ensure that the agreement was signed today [Friday],” Mndebele said.

The ruling follows an urgent application brought by Zinzi Tom, whose brother, Ayanda Tom, is among the trapped miners since July last year.

Mndebele said that once the agreement was signed, funds must be released allowing the MRS to commence rescue operations without further delays.

He said MRS has assured the court they are willing to deploy their team and equipment once payment has been made.

The spokesperson further confirmed that the court ordered the uninterrupted delivery of food, water and medical aid over the weekend, with Judge Ronel Tolmay imploring all stakeholders to act decisively to prevent further loss of life.

“It is unthinkable that people are deprived of food over the weekend. We do not want a situation where this will be marked as the darkest point in our history,” Tolmay stated.

The judge held that no one would go without food on her watch and that it was immoral and unconstitutional to not provide in light of the right to life and dignity.

“The systems must be in place to ensure that no one goes without basic supplies,” she said.

Mndebele praised the ruling as a significant step in holding the state accountable and prioritising the sanctity of human life over a murderous state agenda.

“This judgment represents a critical moment in the fight against systemic neglect, with Zinzi Tom’s legal challenge serving as a powerful reminder of the state’s duty to protect marginalised communities,” he said.

It has been reported that the Minerals Council would pay for the rescue operations, which has been estimated to cost nearly R1 million a day.

Over 1,500 miners have resurfaced from various shafts in the area, with recent reports indicating over 100 dead miners still being trapped underground.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Rescue operations in Stilfontein set to start appeared first on Inside Politic.

The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) has secured funding for a drone to assess and document the underground conditions where illegal miners are trapped in Stilfontein in the North West.

“The video footage obtained through this drone inspection will be instrumental in providing all concerned parties, and possibly including the court, with a clearer understanding of the conditions faced by the trapped miners,” Macua spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele said on Tuesday.

Macua has approached the Constitutional Court with an urgent application concerning the miners. It wants the court to order the government to provide humanitarian aid to the miners, warning that the situation has reached crisis levels.

Mndebele said that the drone would be utilised by a drone expert.

“The footage that can be obtained by the drone will serve to illuminate the circumstances underground, thereby facilitating informed decision making about the urgency of the rescue operation, which the state has dragged its feet on for the past two months,” he said.

“Upon completion of the drone operation, it is hoped that the evidence will be made available for joint assessment by all parties involved. This process will be conducted in an open and transparent manner to ensure fairness and accountability.”

This is not the first proposal that Macua has suggested to the state.

Two weeks ago, when the pulley system, which was instrumental for the survival of the trapped miners, was destroyed, it had offered to lower down a cellphone that would record the conditions underground to help get a better assessment of the situation.

The system was destroyed shortly after Macua made the request.

It is waiting to hear from the state if it will give the go-ahead for the drone.

Hundreds of miners are still believed to be underground and civil rights groups have warned that more of them will die if the state does not intervene.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has said while it was opposed to illegal mining, the mass deaths from starvation and accidents had to be avoided.

“That is not how a democratic South Africa, subscribing to human rights, should behave. Such an occurrence would also be a public relations disaster and reduce the credibility of the government’s fight against illegal mining,” said the DA’s James Lorimer.

He said it appeared that there was no overall strategy to bring this saga to a close.

It was important that somebody in government too charge, coordinated the efforts of the various departments and mounted a rescue effort for those who wanted to get out, but could not.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Macua wants to use a drone to ascertain conditions of Stilfontein miners appeared first on Inside Politic.

The brutal conditions facing illegal miners at Stilfontein in the North West have been revealed in an affidavit released by the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) on Friday.

It has supplemented its application to the Constitutional Court to bring to its attention the increasing urgency regarding the rescue of the miners.

Macua wants the court to hear an urgent application to compel the government to provide humanitarian aid to save their lives. Scores have already died underground, with advocacy groups warning that the situation is beyond crisis levels.

Macua spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele said that following the destruction of a community rescue operations pulley system, under the supervision of the police, no further community rescue operations and food drops could be made.

“Macua has had to supplement its application at the Constitutional Court to bring to the court’s attention the escalation of the degree of urgency in the matter.

“In the supplementary information provided to the court, we also included a more recent detailed account of the harrowing and desperate circumstances prevailing underground. The account of the horrendous conditions underground was provided by Clement Moeletsi and corroborated by other survivors who also recently surfaced,” he said in a statement.

Moeletsi was retrieved from Shaft 11 by the Stilfontein community rescue team on 9 December.

Macua said the SA Police Service resorted to a range of unconstitutional measures to deny him access to his legal representatives from Lawyers for Human Rights.

He was eventually released on R500 bail by the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

According to Moeletsi’s affidavit, his lack of access to his lawyers severely impeded his ability to communicate and provide critical information. However, now that he was out on bail, he was able to give a full account of the situation at Stilfontein.

He entered Shaft 10 in July last year using the rope system. This system, operated manually by “artisanal miners”, required coordination and physical effort to lower individuals into the shaft.

He said that miners relied on the support of others, including community members, to send food, medicine and other essential supplies. But when the police implemented its Operation Vala Umgodi in August, the supplies were completely cut off.

“This abrupt termination of supplies left us utterly blindsided, as we had no warning or explanation for why the provision of food, water, medication and other basic supplies had suddenly stopped.

“Around September 2024, desperation for sustenance reached unimaginable levels. People began eating cockroaches and mixing toothpaste with salt to create makeshift meals, extreme measures born out of sheer deprivation.

“The lack of food and safe drinking water left us with no viable means of nourishment,” the affidavit reads.

From September through to October, the absence of even “basic sustenance was absolute”. Moeletsi went without food or potable water for nearly six weeks.

The prolonged starvation left him physically and mentally drained, and he resorted to drinking toxic underground water, which resulted in severe headaches, abdominal pain, and what he suspects are symptoms of stomach ulcers.

Moeletsi said that the impact of the police operation has been devastating, with many dying due to starvation.

“These were preventable deaths, caused not by natural circumstances but by human decisions. This is what I saw underground, people wasting away, their bodies betraying them in slow, agonising defeat. Hunger stripped them of their strength, turning once vibrant individuals into fragile shadows of themselves.

“At first, there were the pangs of hunger, sharp, and relentless. People held on, trying to ignore the gnawing emptiness inside them. Their faces grew thinner, their eyes sunken.

“As days turned to weeks without food, their movements became sluggish, as if every step was an unbearable effort. The fat that once cushioned their frames disappeared, leaving their bones painfully visible beneath thinning skin. Faces hollowed out, and limbs looked impossibly frail.

“With nothing else to sustain them, their bodies started feeding on their own muscles. Arms that once could dig or carry now trembled under the weight of even the smallest task,” the affidavit reads.

On 13 November, news spread underground that food would be available at Shaft 11. But to get there, the journey was treacherous.

Not everyone chose or was able to take the same path. Some, in their desperation to escape or resurface, turned to the ligaters, which is a single metal rod extending from the deepest part of the mine to the surface above.

The rod was rusted and ill-suited for the weight of humans. But despite the danger, many attempted the climb.

“Tragically, the ligaters became a death trap. Most who tried to scale it fell, their weakened bodies unable to withstand the exertion or maintain their grip on the slippery, corroded surface.

“Those who fell plummeted to the very bottom of the mine, a place so remote and dangerous that recovery was nearly impossible without specialised equipment.”

Moeletsi said it was due to sheer luck that miners had survived.

Mndebele told Inside Politics that there was no date yet for the Constitutional Court application.

The Stilfontein crisis has left South Africa divided over the humane treatment of the illegal miners, who some Cabinet ministers have said should not be helped as they are “criminals”.

INSIDE POLITICS  

The post More information given to ConCourt on Stilfontein crisis appeared first on Inside Politic.

Advocacy groups, led by Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), have escalated relief efforts for the trapped miners at Stilfontein to the Constitutional Court.

They want the court to compel the government to provide urgent humanitarian aid to save lives.

Macua spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele said on Monday that the crisis at the abandoned mine in the North West had reached a critical juncture, with hundreds of illegal miners trapped underground and scores already dead.

“With the application, we are hoping for an urgent date as the situation is of urgency and every second wasted puts the trapped miners’ lives at further risk,” Mndebele said.

Macua’s decision to approach the Constitutional Court follows the Gauteng High Court’s dismissal of its application earlier in the month. The court ruled that humanitarian aid could be provided by social movements, charities and community members, but absolved the state of responsibility.

Mndebele described this ruling as a “miscarriage of justice” that shielded the state from its constitutional obligations to protect lives.

“In our view, Honourable Madam Justice Mazibuko, with respect, erred in her decision which has the effects of shielding the state from taking the responsibility to sustain the lives of the trapped miners, who, without food, will continue to die,” he said.

Reports from underground paint a grim picture, including starvation and miners who have died from injuries. The death toll rises with each passing day.

Mndebele emphasised that the state’s failure to act has exacerbated the crisis.

The organisation’s application calls for immediate humanitarian aid, including food, water and medication, to be delivered to the miners within two hours of the court’s judgment.

Additionally, it is demanding the initiation of a rescue operation at shafts 10 and 11 and weekly progress updates from state agencies and the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.

The South African Police Service’s Operation Vala Umgodi, which is aimed at curbing illegal mining throughout the country, has come under heavy criticism.

While the government maintains that exit points have been established to allow the miners to resurface safely, Macua accuses the SAPS of mismanaging the situation.

“SAPS has misinterpreted its mandate. Their actions prioritise law enforcement over preserving life, resulting in gross negligence and constitutional violations,” he said.

Over the past week, 47 miners resurfaced at the shafts. They have been arrested for illegal mining, trespassing and violating the Immigration Act.

On Sunday, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure defended the government’s approach, claiming that evidence suggested that the miners had access to supplies until recently.

It also denied claims that police actions were trapping the miners, and noted the logistical challenges of rescuing the miners, as they were 2km underground.

However, Macua disputes these claims and accuses the police of spreading misinformation through select media outlets.

It has called on the South African National Editors’ Forum to investigate alleged bias and collusion in reporting.

Mndebele said Macua’s application hinged on the state’s constitutional duty to uphold the right to life and provide disaster management relief.

It also argues that the Mineral Department’s failure to secure the mine and the police’s mishandling of Operation Vala Umgodi has created the conditions for the current crisis.

Additionally, Macua criticises the Social Development Department for its inaction in providing social assistance.

Mndebele warned that every delay increased the death toll.

“Macua wishes to once again emphasise the fact that the more the state is allowed to shirk its constitutional obligations in rescuing the trapped miners, the more people will die,” said Mndebele.

He said that with the apex court’s involvement, the organisation hoped to set a precedent for state accountability in addressing crises involving marginalised communities.

Macua remains resolute in its fight to protect the human rights of the trapped miners and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Macua turns to ConCourt over Stilfontein mine crisis appeared first on Inside Politic.

The government has hit back at civil society groups over the information they are sharing regarding illegal miners in Stilfontein in the North West.

On Sunday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure claimed that several misconceptions have surfaced.

This follows a report by the Stilfontein Crisis Committee (SCC), Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) and community organisation, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua).

“Government acknowledges the presence of various narratives surrounding this issue. It is important to rely on verified information from official channels. SAPS and other government bodies are committed to transparency and will continue to provide accurate updates on the situation,” they said in a statement.

They reiterated that some miners were voluntarily emerging from disused mine shafts, revealing their ability to exit independently. This is contrary to information from advocacy groups that many of them are too weak to surface.

The state believes their delayed emergence is a strategy to avoid arrest.

The government also refuted claims that food supplies underground ran out months ago, saying that evidence indicated that the miners had access to provisions until recently.

Also, allegations that the police were trapping miners underground have been dismissed.

“SAPS has implemented measures to secure the area and prevent further illegal activities, but designated exit points have been established to allow miners to surface safely and face due legal processes,” the statement read.

It said the government remained committed to upholding the rule of law while ensuring the humane treatment of individuals who surfaced.

Defending the delay in completing the rescue operations, the government outlined significant differences between Stilfontein and the rescue of trapped miners in Sabie, Mpumalanga.

Unlike other operations, such as Sabie’s 150m deep shaft, Stilfontein’s mine shaft extended 2km underground, making rescue efforts complex and high-risk. It needed specialised resources and expertise, along with strict adherence to proper procurement processes.

The government urged the illegal miners to resurface and engage with law enforcement to secure their safety.

Advocacy groups have alleged misinformation and incorrect reports by both local authorities and certain media outlets.

A factsheet compiled by the SCC, LHR and Macua claims the physical and logistical impossibilities of independent escape.

The SCC, following the LHR report, has insisted that food and aid were shared equally underground despite months of severe shortages.

The report said that the demands for condiments could be explained, as one survivor described rationing to the extent that “a tablespoon of tomato sauce or mayonnaise could stave off hunger for 24 hours”.

The SCC called for increased transparency and accountability from authorities and the media, emphasising that misinformation and biased narratives were costing lives, influencing public sentiment and impacting rescue efforts.

The mine, abandoned in 2015, was left without proper closure or rehabilitation, allowing “artisanal miners” to operate in dangerous conditions.

The SCC alleged that the mine’s neglect has burdened the Stilfontein community with environmental degradation and economic despair.

Earlier this month, the North Gauteng High Court ruled against requiring state departments to provide aid to the trapped miners.

The decision has been criticised by human rights organisations and community leaders, who argue that the government and Buffelsfontein Gold Mine Ltd. have failed in their legal obligations.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Govt counters claims on Stilfontein miners appeared first on Inside Politic.

The crisis at Stilfontein mine in the North West continues to escalate as six more illegal miners emerged from Shaft 10 on Sunday morning.

This brings the total number of miners who have resurfaced this week to 47, all of whom have been arrested.

North West police spokesperson Adele Myburgh confirmed that all detained miners would appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

“Operation Vala Umgodi will continue through the festive season,” Myburgh said.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that approximately 15 bodies remain underground, raising fears that starvation, hazardous conditions and police actions have contributed to these fatalities.

Emerging miners have dismissed allegations of cannibalism, a claim circulating in some media outlets over the weekend.

The Stilfontein Crisis Committee (SCC) and advocacy groups have condemned the spread of such allegations, urging the media to report responsibly on what they call a humanitarian disaster.

Despite police claims that miners can leave voluntarily, advocates argue the situation is far more dire.

A fact sheet compiled by Lawyers for Human Rights and the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) highlights the physical and logistical impossibilities of independent escape.

Following the LHR report, the SCC has insisted that food and aid were shared equitably underground despite months of severe shortages.

The report said that the demands for condiments could be explained, as one survivor described rationing to the extent that “a tablespoon of tomato sauce or mayonnaise could stave off hunger for 24 hours”.

The SCC has called for increased transparency and accountability from authorities and media, emphasising that misinformation and biased narratives are costing lives, influencing public sentiment and impacting rescue efforts.

Earlier this month, the North Gauteng High Court ruled against requiring state departments to provide aid to the trapped miners, with the decision drawing criticism from human rights organisations and community leaders who argue that the government and the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine Ltd. have failed in their legal obligations.

The mine, abandoned in 2015, was left without proper closure or rehabilitation, allowing what they describe as artisanal miners to operate in dangerous conditions.

The SCC alleged that the mine’s neglect has burdened the Stilfontein community with environmental degradation and economic despair.

With the festive season underway, families of the trapped miners, many of whom relied on them as breadwinners, remain desperate for answers. And, community-led rescue efforts, supported by Macua and the Mahlasedi Foundation, continue to face logistical and financial hurdles

INSIDE POLITICS

The post More trapped miners resurface as NGOs call for factual reporting appeared first on Inside Politic.