An illegal miner involved in the ongoing Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein has expressed doubts that all the miners at the site are fully aware of the government’s plans to evacuate them from the abandoned Buffelsfontein mine shaft. The controversial operation, which aims to shut down illegal mining activities, has intensified in recent weeks as law enforcement seeks to remove illegal miners, known as zama zamas, operating in the dangerous shafts of the old Buffelsfontein mine.
Part of the government’s strategy includes cutting off food and water supplies to the miners, in an effort to force them to surface. However, many miners are reportedly refusing to leave, fearful of arrest and the uncertain consequences of their involvement in illegal mining. To address the situation, the North West provincial government has set up a task team dedicated to compelling the miners to return to the surface, particularly from the notorious Shaft 11.
A 36-year-old illegal miner, who had resurfaced last week, was sent back into the 2.5-kilometer-deep shaft on Tuesday as an intermediary between the law enforcement team and the miners still underground. His task was to inform the remaining miners of the government’s plans to deploy a cage into the shaft in the coming days, which will carry them back to the surface.
However, the miner, who asked not to be named, raised concerns about the difficulty of communicating with everyone in the deep shaft. “I don’t think everyone in the shaft is aware of what’s happening,” he explained. “I don’t think everyone will come out when they start bringing people up.” The vast and hazardous nature of the mine makes it challenging to ensure that all miners receive the same information.
The operation is set to continue as authorities push forward with efforts to remove the miners from the hazardous and illegal mining site. The government’s response highlights the growing concerns over safety, environmental damage, and the illegal mining trade that has plagued many abandoned mines in South Africa.
As the operation unfolds, tensions remain high among both the illegal miners and law enforcement, with many questioning what the next steps will be for the zama zamas and the impact of these operations on the local communities.
