The police and defence ministers, Senzo Mchunu and Angie Motshekga respectively, are expected to visit North West where over 4000 illegal miners are reportedly underground in the Orkney and Stilfontein mine shafts.
SAPS and SANDF members intensified Operation Vala Umgodi by blocking all entry and exit points in abandoned mines in North West that were used to deliver food, water and other necessities to the zama zamas. To date, over 1000 illegal miners have been arrested.
In November 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed the SANDF to support the SAPS and enhance public safety following complaints about alleged illegal miners in various communities, especially in Gauteng and North West.
POLITICIANS ATTEND TO ZAMAS ZAMAS
North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said in line with safeguarding lives, the SAPS and SANDF have since allowed for water and food to be delivered to those underground so that they can safely resurface.
Mokgwabone said police and other safety officials will remain in place in the North West until all illegal miners resurface and are arrested.
“The SAPS calls on these illegal miners to resurface so that they can get relevant help or aid, including any medical attention that may be required. We appeal to the community in the area to allow the police space to do their job. The SAPS will not allow criminality to thrive,” he said.
Police ministry spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said the visit will reinforce government’s commitment to bring the ongoing operation to a safe and lawful conclusion.
Mogotsi said despite multiple calls, a significant number of illegal miners are yet to resurface.
“The visit seeks to interact and engage law enforcement agencies on the ground, engage the North West government and mining leadership and other relevant stakeholders, and to further assess the progress on the ground, challenges and work out appropriate responses,” Mogotsi explained.
RESCUE OPERATIONS CONTINUE
Meanwhile, community members have decided to deliver food and water to the miners who are reportedly not physically well and dehydrated. They have also decided to rescue the illegal miners without the assistance of law enforcement agencies who are on the scene.
This comes as minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni also emphasised that government would not assist the zama zamas and referred to them as criminals who need to be “persecuted”, not helped.
“You want us to send help to criminals? Honestly, we’re not sending help to criminals. We’re going to smoke them out, they will come out. We’re not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped, criminals are to be persecuted.
“We didn’t send them there, and they didn’t go down there for the good benefit or good intentions for the republic. So, we can’t help them, those who want to help them must go and take the food down there. They will come out and we’ll arrest them,” Ntshavheni said.
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