The long-awaited machinery to accelerate the rescue operation at the Stilfontein mine in North West has finally arrived, bringing a glimmer of hope to the families of the illegal miners still trapped underground. The deployment of heavy equipment marks a crucial step forward in the challenging and dangerous task of retrieving those trapped in the shaft.
SAFTU Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi expressed relief at the arrival of the machinery, noting that the operation has begun in earnest. “There is some movement there since some rescue teams are now on the ground, and the operation has started. That gives the families hope,” Vavi said, referencing the emotional cry of a woman from uMlazi who, devastated by the potential loss of her husband and two sons, pleaded for their remains to be brought back so she could give them a proper burial.
The arrival of the machinery offers hope that the remains of those still underground can be recovered, alleviating some of the pain for the grieving families.
In a twist, SANCO spokesperson Mzukisi Jam has dismissed claims that illegal miners underground are refusing to resurface. He criticized the narrative being pushed by law enforcement, accusing them of using fear tactics rather than fostering cooperation. “There’s a story being sold that illegal miners underground do not want to resurface. It is not true because, together with the community leaders and the community at large, we have been pulling those people out using ropes and we have been making progress,” Jam said. While the process has been slow, he highlighted the success of building trust with the community, something he believes law enforcement should have done.
This stands in contrast to reports from the police, who have alleged that extortionists are attempting to extract money from contractors involved in the operation.
In the midst of the ongoing rescue efforts, a local resident has urged the miners still underground to cooperate with authorities. The individual emphasized the danger involved, noting that previous rescue attempts using a rope were increasingly unsafe as the line wore thinner with each attempt. “The past couple of days have been deadly because the rope they were sending down was not one hundred percent guaranteed in terms of safety,” the resident explained. “People have been risking their lives to assist illegal miners, so now that there’s machinery to help bring them up, they better not cause problems for the authorities because they will die down there.”
The community’s plea is clear: as heavy machinery is now in place to speed up the rescue efforts, the focus should shift to saving lives. The hope is that both the authorities and the miners will work together to prevent further fatalities.
