Humanitarian aid case against govt over illegal miners in Stilfontein postponed
The court ordered the unblocking of shaft 11, where the miners have been hiding from police who may arrest them upon surfacing.
Picture: Pixabay
JOHANNESBURG - The humanitarian aid case against government regarding the illegal miners underground in Stilfontein in the North West has been postponed to Thursday.
On Saturday, the Society for the Protection of our Constitution made an urgent application to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, to allow the miners to exit safely while limiting the interference of policing efforts.
READ: Community leaders in Stilfontein poke holes in govt's plan to rescue illegal miners
The court ordered the unblocking of shaft 11, where the miners have been hiding from police who may arrest them upon surfacing.
The case was postponed to allow the respondents, which includes the Department of Co-Operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (COGTA), South African Police Service (SAPS), health and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), to provide answering affidavits.
Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, explained their case.
"The illegal miners are not trapped. They are refusing to go out because they are avoiding arrest. We have allowed a limited supply of porridge and water so they regain their strength and surface. They sent us a letter on Saturday requesting food and nowhere in that letter did they say they are trapped."