Volunteers temporarily suspend rescue efforts at abandoned mine in Stilfontein
The self-appointed rescue team has put their efforts on hold as the scorching sun took its toll on the volunteers on Monday.
Stilfontein gold mine shaft in the North West. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Volunteers have temporarily suspended rescue efforts at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein in the North West as operation ‘Vala Umgodi’ intensifies.
It’s been weeks since police and the army were deployed to parts of the province in a fight against illegal mining.
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The operation has drawn sharp criticism recently, amid concerns that hundreds of illegal miners underground were starving and dehydrated after law enforcement cut off food and water supplies.
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Monday’s rescue mission has been slow and yielded no results.
There are just as many illegal miners underground on Monday as there were on Sunday.
The self-appointed rescue team has put their efforts on hold as the scorching sun takes its toll on the volunteers.
The extra pressure to bring more illegal miners up has also sparked concerns about the equipment and whether the harness and rope being used will hold up.
While the community members figure themselves out, police remain on-site watching from the sidelines.
MEC for Community Safety Wessels Morweng is expected to give an update on a team of experts appointed last week to help bring the illegal miners back to the surface quicker.