Six more illegal miners resurface in Stilfontein
The men, aged between 27 and 30, emerged from underground at the Buffelsfontein gold mine overnight.
Fourteen illegal miners resurfaced from shaft 10 in Stilfontein on 25 November 2024. Picture: EWN/Katlego Jiyane
STILFONTEIN - Six more illegal miners have resurfaced from an abandoned mine shaft in Stilfontein, North West.
The men, aged between 27 and 30, emerged from underground at the Buffelsfontein gold mine overnight.
They are now among more than 1,300 people arrested in North West since August for illegal mining.
Eight dead bodies have also been retrieved from one of the disused shafts since November.
This man, who is part of the latest group to resurface, said there are at least four dead bodies in the shaft.
“When I came up to the surface today, there were still four dead bodies left underground. I knew of six bodies. There were two that were removed, and now four are left.”
Weeks 3: Tough times in Stilfontein as redtape continues to frustrate the rescue mission. Khuma community members are mostly running the operation, sending humanitarian aid down while retrieving the illegal miners. Though their operation, police’s hands are tied.@khanya_mntambo pic.twitter.com/DfaL74Csoc
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 5, 2024
Meanwhile, law enforcement is confident it will soon be able to get all trapped illegal miners out of an abandoned mine shaft in Sabie in Mpumalanga.
The ongoing operation has been moving quickly with more than 20 miners brought back to the surface since Friday morning.
The group was discovered last week when a private security company patrolling the area spotted four zama zamas fleeing the area.
Provincial Police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli:
“We are thankful also to our stakeholders, today [Friday] a vehicle is also being used to pull the rope which makes the process even more quicker.”
ALSO READ: As rescue operation unfolds for zama zamas, Masemola dubs Mpumalanga a hotspot