Yasmin Omar, representing the Stilfontein miners in court. [Picture: Newzroom Afrika]
A lawyer representing illegal miners at a mine in Stilfontein, North West, said the government has a duty to take care of those underground.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), are engaged in ongoing retrieval efforts.
The miners’ representative, Yasmin Omar, told a court that they were either “afraid to come out and be arrested” or “so weakened they can’t come out”.
Echoing this sentiment, a member of Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) welcomed the operation. However, he noted, even if help was on the way, it would be “useless”.
“Without food, without water, we see this operation as useless, because it will take out dead bodies. We hope the cameras come up with positive information,” he told the state broadcaster.
However, the chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police, Ian Cameron, did not sympathise with those evading arrest.
“Let me get this straight, if, and that is, IF, they are weakened due to personally deciding not to come out to face arrest because of breaking the law, a cop must now risk his or her life more than 2000m below ground in a potentially explosive rigged mine shaft with heavily armed criminals waiting to kill them?” he posted on X.
