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North West, South Africa — illegal zama zamas who remain underground in Stilfontein have written another letter, this time requesting for various household supplies, including medicine and food items such as mayonnaise and tomato sauce.
The demands have shocked many, among them is community member leading the rescue mission, Johannes Qankase – speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday. “Those who don’t want to resurface, wanting mayonnaise… It’s their own baby,” Qankase said condemning their requests, stating that they don’t have time to entertain miners who appear to be playing games with them. “If they want to remain, they can remain there … but those who wants to resurface, who want our assistance, we will help them.”
Two more suspected illegal miners have since come to the surface in Stilfontein, shaft 11. Interestingly, the second illegal miners had a letter attached to him by the remaining miners, who requested several items, including mayonnaise, bath soaps, tomato sauce and strangely, paraffin – as seen in the Newzroom Afrika post below.
Meanwhile, in a strange twist of events, police are facing backlash for allowing NGOs and unauthorised community rescue missions to aid zama zamas with ‘treats’ during rescue operations. Critics argue that mining communities, ravaged by poverty, as perpetuated by illegal mining violence and exploitation, are left behind. Calls for accountability continue to grow louder as the result.
Shocked by the incident, one X user (T.), shared: “I’m tarting to think they are working with the police, how many more requests will these criminals keep getting away with.”
Another (@Enghumbhini) wrote: ‘I really like the zama zamas. They have exposed those who peddled the notion of them trapped. These are illegal miners who do not intend to come out but need new supplies since those who used to supply them in the dark can’t do so since the police arrived.”
Furthermore, the latest developments confirms South African authorities’ earlier statement that the miners were not trapped, but unwilling to resurface to avoid arrest.
