insert_link South Africa South African National Civic Organisation Urges Government to Expedite Rescue of Illegal Miners The South African National Civic Organisation in the North West is calling on the government to speed up the process of rescuing illegal miners who remain underground. Around four-thousand illegal miners are still underground at a disused shaft at Stilfontein mine. More than one-thousand illegal miners have resurfaced in recent weeks after Operation Vala Umgodi was mounted by police. Sanco’s spokesperson, Mzukisi Jam, says government’s slow action is disappointing: todayNovember 26, 2024 17
insert_link South Africa S. A Police Welcome Court Order Protecting Illegal Miners at Stilfontein S. A Police have welcomed an interim court order issued by the Gauteng High Court yesterday for the protection of illegal miners still underground at the disused Stilfontein mines near Klerksdorp in North West. The order provides the miners the opportunity to exit voluntarily and prohibits the blocking of the shafts. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe says SAPS static deployment operations continue at all abandoned and disused mining shafts in […] todayNovember 18, 2024 24
insert_link South Africa SA Police Issue Indemnity Forms to Volunteers in Hazardous Stilfontein Mine Rescue Operation S.A's Police have given indemnity forms to community volunteers helping with the Stilfontein mine rescue in North West. The police warned against sending officials into the abandoned mine due to dangers, including toxic gases and the risk of armed miners. In a media briefing, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed an investigation is underway following the recovery of the decomposed body of an illegal miner: todayNovember 15, 2024 34
insert_link South Africa S.A. Cabinet Backs Crackdown on Crime and Illegal Mining S.A's Cabinet has strongly condemned the increasing crime rate and expressed full support for efforts to combat illegal mining. It also commended a successful police operation in North West which resulted in the arrest of over one-thousand illegal miners. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says government is committed to tackling these issues with stronger law enforcement and stricter measures to curb illegal mining, which fuels the rise in criminal […] todayNovember 14, 2024 22
insert_link South Africa 225 illegal miners resurface from underground in S.A’s North West province A total of 225 illegal miners resurfaced from underground in Orkney Mine in North West yesterday due to starvation and dehydration. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe says they are part of what is believed to be hundreds if not a thousand of illegal miners who are stuck underground with no food, water and necessities because the routes used to deliver food and necessities to these illegal miners, are blocked by vala […] todayNovember 4, 2024 30
insert_link South Africa More than 1300 workers remain underground at a platinum mine in North West of South Africa The National Union of Mineworkers of South Africa has confirmed that 1,349 mineworkers remain underground at Impala Platinum’s Bafokeng Rasimone mine in Rustenburg, North West. Among them, 669 workers are situated at the north shaft, and 680 are at the south shaft, refusing to surface after reporting for duty on Monday morning. The standoff between the workers and the mine revolves around several issues, including disputes over pension fund payouts, […] todayDecember 21, 2023 21
South Africa South African Federation of Trade Unions says it is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of life of eleven mineworkers The South African Federation of Trade Unions says it is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of life of eleven mineworkers at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg, North West. The workers died after the conveyance cage that took workers down a mine shaft and back to the surface broke. Saftu’s national spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says by now mine health and safety should have improved to zero injuries and fatalities […] todayNovember 29, 2023 16