Ngo Wants Govt To Provide R7.8 Million To Rescue Stilfontein Miners

Lawyers for Human Rights is demanding that the government provide R7.8 million to fund the retrieval of illegal miners still trapped at Stilfonteins Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in the North West.

The matter awaits a Constitutional Court ruling to determine whether the responsibility lies with the state or the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.

On Thursday, Zinzi Tom, represented by Lawyers for Human Rights, filed an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court. Tom is calling for the government to fund the retrieval operation at Shafts 10 and 11, where her brother, Ayanda Tom, is believed to be underground.

The shafts are part of the Vala Umgodi operation, launched in August 2024 to combat illegal mining. Authorities have arrested 1 570 illegal miners and retrieved nine bodies to date.

Lawyers for Human Rights attorney Thato Gaffane explained the courts interim approach, "The matter was placed under judicial case management. The court took notice of the matter, so what that means is that the court will keep the matter open and will not make an order. And because the parties sort of came to an agreement that an order should not be made until Tuesday. And in the interim what will happen is that the communities will be able to send food down without being interrupted and harassed by the police until mine rescue services start. And when they do start the machinery that they use to rescue the people must also take food down, Gaffane says.