Court bars law enforcement from blocking aid to illegal miners at abandoned Stilfontein mine
This followed a protracted operation by police and the army in parts of the province in a bid to clamp down on illegal mining networks underground.
STILFONTEIN - The Pretoria High Court has barred law enforcement from blocking aid to illegal miners at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, North West.
This follows a protracted operation by police and the army in parts of the province in a bid to clamp down on illegal mining networks underground.
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Operation Vala Umgodi was intensified earlier in November, with police closing off the movement of food, water, and other supplies into disused shafts.
The Society for the Protection of Our Constitution took the matter to court, asking for intervention on behalf of the illegal miners underground.
The papers filed by the organisation cite the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as the first respondent, the Minister of Police as the second, the Minister of Health as the third, and the Minister of Mineral Resources as the fourth respondent.
On Saturday, the court granted an interim order for the mine shaft in Stilfontein to be unblocked.
It further prevents the shaft from being blocked by any person or institution, whether government or private.
Pending the finalisation of the application, miners in the shaft shall not be permitted to exit, and no non-emergency personnel may enter.
The application has been postponed to Tuesday.
Costs have also been reserved.