8th body of zama zama retrieved from abandoned Stilfontein gold mine

STILFONTEIN - The body of another illegal miner has just been retrieved from shaft 11 an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein

This is the eighth body to be retrieved since early November.

Of these - seven were brought up to the surface this week alone. 

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Although community members helping with retrieval at the site claim the illegal miners are dying of starvation and dehydration, autopsies are yet to determine the exact cause.

The retrieval of the latest body comes shortly after National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola visited the site on Thursday afternoon - where he was briefed by local authorities on the latest developments. 

He was joined by several senior police officials.

COSTLY RETRIEVAL OPERATION MARRED BY RED TAPE - ADMITS MASEMOLA

Three weeks since a task team was appointed to retrieve hundreds of illegal miners from an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, Masemola has admitted that the operation has been frustrated by red tape.

Mining experts were expected to begin phase three of the operation to bring the zama zamas up to the surface some time this week but it’s understood safety concerns are among the setbacks. 

Masemola has admitted that law enforcement is caught between a rock and a hard place.

“As you are aware, the Stilfontein rescue operation that is being undertaken is not as easy and is quite complex, taking into account the depth of the shaft and the number of tunnels going in there?”

According to Masemola, the government is yet to settle on who should foot the bill for the operation which initially cost one million rand a day.

“We understand that there is a quotation that requires upfront payment, which if there is consensus of who should carry the cost so that those that have to be brought to book are brought to book.”