Police continue stakeout at Stilfontein after court orders that the shaft be unblocked
Police cordoned off the shaft recently in a bid to shut down illegal mining activity at the abandoned mine – cutting off the miner's lifeline from the nearby community.
Stilfontein gold mine shaft in the North West. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Following a court order to end the blocking of an abandoned mine shaft in Stilfontein, police are expected to continue their stakeout in the area on Sunday morning.
On Saturday, the high court in Pretoria ordered that the shaft at the old Buffelsfontein Mine be unblocked by authorities to allow food and water supplies for the starving and dehydrated illegal miners underground.
Police cordoned off the shaft recently in a bid to shut down illegal mining activity at the abandoned mine – cutting off the miner's lifeline from the nearby community.
READ: Mchunu dismisses calls for illegal Stilfontein miners not to be arrested when they resurface
While it’s feared some have since died, one body has been retrieved from the shaft and other miners have been taken to hospital for their injuries.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the order doesn’t prevent law enforcement from continuing with their work.
"All those who resurface will continue to be assessed by emergency medical personnel on site, as has been the case. Those that are in a good health will be processed and detained. Those that require further medical care will be taken to hospital under police guard. As of 16:00 on Saturday afternoon, three illegal miners have resurfaced," she siad.
"Earlier, one South African national was arrested at a house used as a smelter in Kanana. He was found to be in possession of gold bearing material. Equipment used in illegal mining operations was also seized in this intelligence driven operation."