Illegal miner who resurfaced at Stilfontein to be middle man between zama zamas and rescue team

JOHANNESBURG - An illegal miner who resurfaced from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein last week has been sent back into the shaft on Tuesday as a fresh rescue plan is set in motion.

The government-led rescue operation kicked off today with an assessment of the shaft where an unknown number of illegal miners are refusing to resurface.

READ: Humanitarian aid case against govt over illegal miners in Stilfontein postponed

The stand-off between zama zamas and law enforcement follows a protracted Operation Vala Umgodi to clamp down on illegal mining in the North West and six other provinces.

Part of the rescue plan announced by local government on Monday included establishing a line of communication with the illegal miners underground.

Community leader, Thembile Bortman, said the illegal miner sent down the shaft will be the go-between between the zama zamas and the technical team.

"We’ll be sending one guy to go and communicate a proper message to say people underground must be patient and they must not panic. We understand that as much as they have strength after five to six days, the cage will be there – they must climb into the cage and allow the state to save them."

The same illegal miner sent back, previously told EWN that he was desperate to return underground to continue mining.

But Bortman said that he was certain the illegal miner would return later on Tuesday and that the plan would go ahead as expected.

"I do have faith or hope because it seems, according to authorities, to be a better and safer plan."

The operation is expected to run for several days.