Police Minister Mchunu found in contempt of court order regarding aid for illegal Stilfontein miners

JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been found to be in contempt of a court order that grants lobby groups the green light to send humanitarian aid to illegal miners at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein.

This after community organisation, Mining Affected Communities United in Action, filed for a contempt of court order against Mchunu on Tuesday.

The NGO claims police have restricted food and water supplies down an abandoned mine occupied by hundreds of illegal miners.

This is despite an interim court order allowing lobby groups and community members to send aid to hungry and dehydrated zama zamas. 

The latest court battle comes as police and the army continue their operation to shut down the illegal underground mining networks by cutting off essentials to the groups that has been operating at the mine for years.

On Sunday, the Pretoria High Court granted an interim court order in favour of the organisation, Mining Affected Communities United in Action.

Police and other government departments were ordered to allow community members to provide water, food, and medication to the illegal miners underground at shafts 10 and 11 of the Buffelsfontein gold mine.

But the NGO said police had limited how and when the aid could be sent down.

Without any explanation, the organisation said that police refused for certain food items to be included in the emergency packs, including tinned fish, soup and maize meal.

The delivery of paracetamol and batteries for the miners' headlamps has also been denied.

The matter was heard by the court on Tuesday night.