Community members in Stilfontein blame govt's failures for rise in illegal mining
Government intensified Operation Vala Umgodi recently in a bid to clamp down on illegal mining.
Scores of illegal miners are still trapped underground in Stilfontein, North West. Picture: SAPS
JOHANNESBURG - Some community members in Stilfontein have blamed the government's inefficiencies for the rise in illegal mining in the area.
This is after the black market trade made headlines again this past week amid an impasse between illegal miners and law enforcement in parts of the North West.
The government recently intensified Operation Vala Umgodi to clamp down on illegal mining but the move has been fiercely opposed by some in the community.
In the quarter 2 unemployment figures released by Stats SA in August, the North West reported a loss of 12,000 jobs, bringing unemployment in the province up to 54%.
Although the picture improved slightly in the third quarter, North West is the only province in the country where there are more unemployed people than employed people.
The province currently has the highest expanded unemployment rate of 51,1%.
One Khuma resident in Stilfontein said illegal mining is the last resort to make ends meet for a community battling to find jobs.
READ: Deployment of soldiers to curb illegal mining is having an impact, SANDF tells MPs
"If these people die in the shaft, who is going to put food on the table for us? Government knows the mineral resources underground at this mine don’t belong to anyone. They must allow us to mine there so we have jobs because government failed to create jobs for us," said the resident.
Volunteers are expected to continue with rescue efforts for some illegal miners believed to be looking for a way out, while police are also set to continue with Operation Vala Umgodi on Monday in a standoff no one seems to have a solution for.