Cage set to retrieve illegal Stilfontein miners assembled as phase 3 of recovery operation begins

STILFONTEIN - A cage set to retrieve hundreds of illegal miners from an abandoned mine in Stilfontein has been assembled as phase three of the rescue operation is set into motion.

This is part of a drawn-out mission to bring to the surface illegal miners occupying Shaft 11 at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.

Law enforcement intensified Operation Vala Umgodi in September in a bid to clamp down on illegal mining in seven provinces.

A task team, including mining experts, was later established to close in on illegal mining in the North West.

The arrival of the cage in Stilfontein is part of the third and final phase of the rescue operation.

The red, cylindrical cage is less than 2m high and is expected to take less than 10 illegal miners up at a time.

READ: Stilfontein miners matter should be resolved soon – Lawyers for Human Rights

A surveillance camera is also mounted to the top of the structure. 

Once a dry run has been done and safety precautions are in place, the cage will be sent about 2.5km down, with a community leader manning it.

Sources with knowledge of the operation are also in the process of trying to secure remuneration for the community leader to compensate him for his role in the operation.

Law enforcement previously said they were not willing to go down the shaft, citing a lack of training for an operation of this nature, while mining experts cited safety concerns.

The R12 million rescue mission is expected to run for another two weeks, barring any further setbacks.