By REGINALD KANYANE
17 January 2025- The North West Department of Health said its officials have wrapped up a week-long on-site support operation at the National Rescue Operation (NRO) at Stilfontein mine. The operation ended 16 January 2025.
The North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari said the department’s on-site successful operation comprised of different specialists’ healthcare professionals led by acting Deputy Director General for Hospitals and Clinical Support, Agisanang Portia Tlou, Chief Director for Hospitals and Clinical Support Services, Zenzo Ndabula and Chief Director for Dr Kenneth Kaunda district, Phil Maboe.
Lehari said the operation oversaw the care of the extracted sickly illegal miners at the department’s medical facilities before being handed over to the police for arrests.
“The operation also involved the processing, transportation and storage of bodies of those that have perished underground. Of the illicit miners, only 9 have been admitted under the department’s care for further medical check-ups under police guard.
“The rest are in police custody. We laud officials dispatched on site by the Superintendent General, Obakeng Mongale. They have shown unwavering commitment and have gone beyond the call of duty,” he said.
Lehari further said operations like these ones are complex, especially when they involve such a huge number. He added that all of the over 1900 illegal miners passed through the hands of their medical personnel before being handed over to police.
“They have done so well. The work on those bodies have started in earnest and I am really proud of the work done so far. We are not done yet as we will now work on bodies at our mortuaries,” said Lehari.
Meanwhile, he said 246 individuals were brought to the surface from underground and assessed by medical personnel from the Department of Health before being handed over to the for criminal processing between 13 and 15 January 2025.
Lehari said the operation also saw the extraction of 78 bodies, which have been inimitably handled by the Forensic Pathology Services within the department.
“Some of the bodies had stayed for days and unfortunately are in a mortified state. The department reiterates its earlier call to members of the public and media to guard against disinformation and misinformation and allow the government to handle this sensitive matter with all tenets required,” he said.
The Guardian 