MACUA heads to court to halt govt from violating rights of zama zamas in Stilfontein
Government has been criticised for blocking the supply of food and other necessities from reaching the zama zamas underground.
Police process illegal miners at a abandoned mine in Stilfontein after they resurfaced on 30 November 2024. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - An organisation representing mining communities has approached the courts to have government prohibited from violating the rights of zama zamas at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein.
In the last month, the police's Operation Vala Umgodi has seen some of the illegal miners resurface while others have refused to come out.
Government has been criticised for blocking the supply of food and other necessities from reaching the zama zamas underground.
The organisation, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), said its urgent application at the Pretoria High Court seeks to compel government to protect the rights of illegal miners.
Meanwhile, trade union GIWUSA's media liaison, Koketso Phasha, said that the organisation supported this application.
"MACUA's application, set to be heard on December 20, 2024, at 12:00 pm, demands that the respondents provide humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medication, within two hours of the court order."