By BAKANG MOKOTO
13 November 2024- The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said it is shocked by the discovery of illicit mining taking place in Khuma Township, Stilfontein. This comes after dead bodies have allegedly been discovered by community members, who have surveyed the mine.
The EFF provincial spokesperson, Fanon Moema said community members conducted an investigation underground when their family members did not return home for days and alerted the authorities. Moema said according to the South African Police Services (SAPS), there are over 4500 miners trapped underground.
“The EFF is dismayed by the report that the North West Provincial Government, South African Police Services, Department of Mineral Resources and Emergency
Services do not have the capacity to go underground to retrieve surviving miners and account for the dead bodies.
“The SAPS has only stopped the supply of food underground as a mechanism to force the miners out of the mine. The reliance of the state organs on the community to assist in conducting investigation and oversight renders the government incompetent, complacent and shockingly incapacitated,” he said.
Moema further said they call upon all state organs, including SAPS Specialized task unit, the army and emergency services to collaborate in retrieving the alleged dead bodies, sick and all persons underground. He added that they call for law enforcement agencies to work with miners to capture syndicate bosses involved in the selling and buying of extracted minerals.
“The root problem of illicit mining lies in the fact that mining companies that previously operated at the site have neglected the site without putting in place rehabilitation and security measures.
“The EFF acknowledges that illegal mining is often a consequence of broader socio-economic issues such as poverty, unemployment and lack of formal job opportunities,” said Moema.
He said many people involved in illegal mining do so out of economic necessity, as formal employment options are limited, particularly in impoverished areas. Moema said in this regard, the EFF emphasizes that a broader strategy to tackle poverty and unemployment is needed in parallel with efforts to curb illegal mining activities.
“While we condemn illicit mining in its current form, we also support the idea of formalizing and regulating small-scale mining. The EFF argue that the state should create legal frameworks to support small miners, providing them with the necessary tools, licenses and access to resources, thereby reducing the incentives for illegal mining.
“The EFF expresses concerns about the devastating effects of illicit mining, both on the environment and the lives of miners. Illicit mining often occurs in unsafe and exploitative conditions, where miners face significant risks without the necessary protection or support,” he said.
Moema said illicit mining often results in accidents, violence, and the environmental harm caused by the lack of regulatory oversight.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said: “A number of illegal miners who resurfaced rose from the initial 269 to 439. In total, the number of illegal miners who resurfaced between 18 October and 5 November 2004, rose to just above 1000.
“The suspects are still being processed accordingly. The 55 suspects arrested on 2 November 2024, appeared in court 5 November 2024. However, charges against them were withdrawn. They were nevertheless detained by Immigration Officials in terms of Section 34 of the Immigration Act, 2002, pending deportation order.”
The Guardian 