Activists accuse police of cover up related to escape of alleged Stilfontein mining kingpin
In January, James Tshoaeli, known as Tiger, evaded arrest after he resurfaced from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein.
Miners underground it was a wait-and-see game as SAPS await their emergence on 15 November 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - As an intense search for an alleged illegal mining ringleader continues in Stilfontein, some activists have accused police of using low-ranking officers as scapegoats.
In January, James Tshoaeli, known as Tiger, evaded arrest after he resurfaced from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein.
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He was among almost 2,000 illegal miners occupying the old Buffelsfontein gold mine when police intensified an operation to clamp down on illicit mining in the area.
The escape of Tiger from police custody revealed the infiltration of police by an extensive network of brutal criminals linked to illegal mining and other heinous crimes.
Four police officers have since been arrested for their alleged part in Tiger’s escape, an inside job believed to have been set up long before he even resurfaced from Shaft 11 last month.
Organisations lobbying for the illegal miners in Stilfontein have now accused police of a massive cover-up.
"Do you honestly think that only four policemen could have facilitated that? Think about it," said an attorney at Lawyers for Human Rights, Mametlwe Sebei.
Aside from Tiger being on the loose, police said they believed other ringleaders may be among the illegal miners arrested during the protracted operation.