The retrieval operation to rescue suspected illegal miners from the Shaft 11 at a Stilfontein mine in the North West province has officially begun. Led by North West Community Safety MEC, Wessels Morweng, the task team is carrying out the first phase of the operation to bring the miners to the surface.
The illegal miners, who have been hiding in the previously rehabilitated shaft, are reportedly refusing to leave, complicating efforts for the operation team. Yesterday, the mine rescue team conducted an assessment of the shaft, evaluating the necessary equipment for a successful retrieval. Authorities are working to clear the site in the coming days before beginning the official operation to bring the miners to safety.
Initially, local community members had been involved in attempts to retrieve the miners, but the operation was paused to allow the task team, appointed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, to take control. The number of miners still underground remains unclear, though rescue efforts are intensifying.
The leader of the community’s rescue efforts, Thembile Botman, has expressed deep concerns about the welfare of the miners still trapped underground, particularly regarding the lack of provisions for food.
“The only thing that bothered us is that authorities have no plan to provide food to the miners while they wait. At least we want them to be sustained so that they survive. We just hope that after six days, we are saving human beings, not corpses,” Botman said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
As the task team continues its mission, the hope is that the miners will be safely retrieved from the shaft without further delay. With the community, authorities, and rescue teams working together, there is a concerted effort to ensure that those still trapped underground are brought to safety as quickly as possible.
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Source: SABC News
