Law enforcement won’t back down prematurely in standoff with illegal miners - Mchunu

STILFONTEIN - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that law enforcement would not stand down prematurely amid concerns of heavy-handedness in Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein in the North West.

Mchunu made the comments on Friday during a roundtable discussion with community and religious leaders, as well as local mining forums in Stilfontein.

Mchunu’s address was part of efforts by police to deal with illegal mining in the area.

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Hundreds of zama zamas are reportedly refusing to resurface from a number of shafts at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.

The Stilfontein community has pleaded with government to find speedy solutions to the issue, including sending aid to the illegal miners and to find ways to bring them back to safety.

But Mchunu said that police and the army would remain deployed for another few months in seven provinces.