Illegal miners, known as Zama Zamas, trapped underground at an abandoned mine in Stillfontein, North West, have urgently requested access to ARVs. The miners sent a note attached to a rope that was lowered down by local volunteers, asking for the life-saving medication. The miners’ plea highlights the dire conditions they face in the mine and the risks to their health.
In a handwritten note, the miners pleaded in IsiZulu, saying: “Sicela amaARV pills please, abantu baya wadinga ngapha. siyacela bandla” (“We are pleading for ARVs. People need them down here”). A volunteer, involved in the rescue operation, shared the miners’ concerns, adding that they had sent down a rope to help them resurface, but the miners attached the letter instead. The volunteers have also called for a sturdier rope to continue the rescue, citing limited resources.
Volunteers have been working tirelessly to assist the miners, but resources are stretched thin. The rescue team explained that the rope they sent down was too thin to be safe for the miners’ ascent, and they now have to appeal to the community for donations to purchase a new one. With growing concerns over safety, the volunteers are urging the government to step in and support the mission, especially given the limited resources at their disposal.
In response to the miners’ urgent request, Deputy Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili assured the public that the South African Police Service (SAPS) would facilitate the delivery of ARVs as per an interim order from the Pretoria High Court. The court ruling mandates that authorities ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies, including medication, food, and water, to the trapped miners. According to Mosikili, SAPS is coordinating with rescue teams to ensure that the miners receive the ARVs they requested while continuing the operation to bring them to safety.
