By REGINALD KANYANE
16 January 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it has delivered an official letter to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the ongoing disaster at the Buffelsfontein Mine in Stilfontein, North West. This comes after the mine became the site of a devastating crisis, with over 78 illegal miners’ bodies recovered.
The DA spokesperson on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, James Lorimer, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said, the letter emphasises the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation into the events surrounding this crisis. Lorimer said the mine has attracted significant attention, both locally and internationally, as the humanitarian catastrophe unfolds.
“We believe that this crisis warrants a full and
transparent inquiry into the causes and consequences of the disaster. So, we calling for the inquiry to investigate key issues, including the role of government agencies.
“An examination of the actions or failures of government bodies such as law enforcement and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), which are responsible for managing and addressing illegal mining operations,” he said.
Lorimer further said the investigation must also look into the role of the mine owners, management, and operators in ensuring safety and mitigating illegal mining activities. He added that the inquiry should determine the factors that led to the disaster, including insufficient safety protocols and the escalation of illegal mining activities.
“The extent of illegal mining at Buffelsfontein and its effect on both the mine’s operations and the surrounding community, must be fully explored. We also call for an assessment of how government agencies have responded to the crisis, particularly in light of the Gauteng High Court’s order for a lawful rescue operation.
“The inquiry should propose recommendations for preventing similar disasters in the future, including regulatory improvements and stronger measures against illegal mining,” said Lorimer.
He said the DA urges Ramaphosa to act swiftly, while witnesses are still available to ensure that this inquiry takes place. Lorimer said a transparent investigation will help uncover the full scope of the crisis and prevent future tragedies of this nature.
Meanwhile, a total of 84 alive illegal miners have been retrieved on 15 January 2025. All 84 have been placed under arrest.
The national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “Eighteen illegal miners have been certified dead. Mathe said the total figures on day three of operations by 4pm on Wednesday afternoon showed that 216 alive illegal miners were retrieved, while 78 are deceased.”
The acting North west Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, provided further updates at 7:30pm yesterday.
The Guardian 