Ntshavheni says govt won't be sending any help to scores of illegal miners in NW
The Minister in the Presidency says scores of zama zamas trapped inside the abandoned mine shaft in the North West, without any food or water, must be 'smoked out' and prosecuted.
Some of the illegal miners in Stilfontein in North West get medical attention. Scores of illegal miners are still trapped underground. Picture: SAPS
CAPE TOWN - Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says the government won't be sending any help to thousands of illegal miners trapped underground in Stilfontein.
She said the scores of zama zamas (illegal miners) trapped inside the abandoned mine shaft in the North West, without any food or water, must be "smoked out" and prosecuted.
READ: Police waiting for thousands of illegal miners to surface from unstable Stilfontein mine shaft
Ntshavheni was addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday.
"You want us to send help to criminals, honestly? We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. 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 and good intentions of the republic," said Ntshavheni.
Ntshavheni added they can't send law enforcement down the shaft to assist the illegal miners as this might put their lives in danger.
Meanwhile, African Nationa Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) member Andile Lungisa has objected to Ntshaveni's refusal for the government to assist illegal miners trapped underground.
Lungisa posted on X that they'll never accept inhumane actions, especially coming from the government.
The minister's comments have divided many, with some like the Patriotic Alliance's Gayton Mckenzie and leaders in ActionSA praising her stance on the matter.
The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Helen Zille questioned the lack of ubuntu.