North West police to monitor Stilfontein after retrieval operation is called off

STILFONTEIN - As the government takes stock of an extraordinary operation to retrieve illegal miners from underground, police in the North West are expected to remain on high alert in Stilfontein. 

A special operation to retrieve illegal miners at a disused mine was called off on Thursday after it was confirmed that there were no more people left underground. 

The third and final phase kicked off at the start of the week. 

Since then, more than 240 zama zamas were brought up alive - while close to 80 dead bodies were recovered from shaft 11 at the Buffelsfontein gold mine. 

The special government-led operation may be done, but police said they won’t leave anything to chance in Stilfontein. 

READ: Remains of more than 70 Stilfontein illegal miners yet to be identified
  
Acting police commissioner in the North West, Patrick Asaneng said as a precaution, teams on the ground won’t be scaling down just yet. 

"Operation Vala Umgodi started in 2023 and we had pencilled it in to continue until May this year. It's unfortunate that this become our hot spot or focal point but we will be focusing on all the areas where there is mining."

Outside of Operation Vala Umgodi, he said there are no plans to run another specialised, highly technical operation to retrieve illegal miners believed to be at other shafts. 

READ: Kingpins who commissioned mining op must be held accountable for Stilfontein crisis - police 

"We must not then think that government is in the process of going around conducting rescue services or missions."

The final report on the operation is yet to be handed over to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.