Stilfontein illegal miners: 'We are dying by the hour'
'We will stay here until we have taken out all the people who are willing to climb into the cage,' says Mannas Fourie, CEO of Mines Rescue Services.
Stilfontein gold mine shaft in the North West. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie joins Bongani Bingwa.
Listen below.
ALSO READ: Six more bodies retrieved as rescue cage continues bringing illegal miners to surface at Stilfontein
The eyes of the world remain on the illegal mine in Stilfontein in North West where rescue operations continue to bring hundreds of illegal miners to the surface.
More than 132 so-called 'zama zamas' have been rescued since operations began on Monday at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.
Six bodies have been retrieved and it's believed as many as 100 more remain underground.
It comes after the Pretoria High Court ordered the Minerals Council and the government to split the cost of rescuing the trapped miners.
Fourie admits it's a difficult operation.
"They are not in the best conditions. You can see that some of the guys have taken strain. They're happy to come out."
Mannas Fourie, CEO - Mines Rescue Services
"We have made some great advances on the amount of people we have pulled out since we started on site on Saturday. We are on track."
- Mannas Fourie, CEO - Mines Rescue Services
In November, officials shut off entrances to the mineshaft used to bring the men food and water, in a bid to force them to return to the surface.
Fourie says the miners are cooperative and explains the process of rescuing them.
"They're keen to get into the cage. We're loading as many people as we can at one time ... There is no resistance. The guys are coming out."
- Mannas Fourie, CEO - Mines Rescue Services
"We're going down to 1,280 metres, whereby we move at a speed of 1.5 metres per second. It takes around 45 minutes for a roundtrip."
- Mannas Fourie, CEO - Mines Rescue Services
Fourie says it's difficult to put an exact number on the number of men who remain underground, but estimates it to be around 250.
"As soon as they come out, we pass them on to the SAPS."
- Mannas Fourie, CEO - Mines Rescue Services
On Tuesday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe visited the site, with Mantashe telling reporters, "The government will not be negotiating with criminals involved in illegal mining."
ALSO READ: ‘You cannot wash your hands and say illegal miners must be left to die’ – Lawyer
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