By Gift Sebiloane
Stilfontein, North West – the standoff between law authorities and illegal miners in Stilfontein illegal mining saga continues to unfold with new twists and turns.
Just when it seemed like the situation was calming down, police announced the arrest of 14 more illegal miners who emerged from the depths of shaft 10, linked to the infamous shaft 11. Among those apprehended was a 14-year-old boy, shining a harsh light on the grim reality of child labor within the illegal mining industry.
This latest development has reignited concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in these dangerous operations. The presence of a child miner underscores the desperation driving people to risk their lives, and raises questions about the social and economic conditions that push children into such hazardous work.
“This is a tragedy,” lamented child rights activist, Nomsa Nkosi, speaking to eNCA at the scene. “A child belongs in school, not in the darkness of a mine shaft. This incident should be a wake-up call for us to address the root causes of child labor and protect our most vulnerable.”
The arrests also raise further questions about the true number of individuals still underground. While police maintain that the majority of the miners have resurfaced, some community members and activists remain skeptical.
“We fear that many more remain trapped, afraid to come out due to the threat of arrest and deportation,” said community leader, Joseph Mthembu, in an interview with The Mail & Guardian. “We urge authorities to continue their efforts to ensure that everyone is accounted for and that no one is left behind.”
As the investigation continues and the legal process unfolds, South Africans awaits to see what justice will look like for those arrested, and what measures will be taken to address the underlying issues that continue to fuel this dangerous and exploitative trade.
‘Miners not trapped’ – Police says
In an official post by South African crime intelligence shared on X (Twitter), police confirmed the zama zamas are all Mozambicans. “Total of 14 illegal miners, all of whom are Mozambican nationals, resurfaced last night and are currently in police custody. Notably, a 14-year-old boy is amongst the group.
In an earlier post (seen here), police also pointed out that contrary to believe, the arrested miners confirmed they were not trapped, but unwilling to resurface to avoid arrest.
“Eleven (11) illegal miners just exited shaft 10, proving they were not trapped but unwilling to resurface. They opted to emerge late at night, ‘assuming’ the police were no longer present, and some immediately ran back upon noticing the police presence,” the South African shared on X.’
