(14 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stilfontien, South Africa – 14 November 2024
1. Forensic pathologists carrying body of a deceased miner in to the back of a van
2. Various of forensic pathology car driving away from the mine shaft
3. Aid workers in green carrying a miner from the shaft in a tarp
4. Police personnel ahead of addressing the media
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Athlenda Mathe, national police spokesperson:
“For the mere fact that we have consulted with the mine owner, we have consulted with DMRE (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy) and they are telling us that it is unsafe, it’s inhumane to allow people to go down there. We have taken a decision that no police officer, no soldier, no government official will go down to an abandoned mine. Firstly, there are hazardous gases that are flowing there. There’s a high risk of loss of life.”
6. Police spokesperson taking questions
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Athlenda Mathe, national police spokesperson:
“But what you do see now is that community members are stepping in and demanding to go and rescue these illegal miners themselves. We are indemnifying them. We are making them sign indemnity forms as a way of exempting us. We have taken them through the dangers and the consequences of doing so.”
8. Police personnel at the top of the mine shaft
9. Various of community volunteer rescuers leaving the site
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Thembile Botman, community volunteer and leader:
“If you had listened to the minister yesterday, the arrogance and the irresponsible utterances that she did. It shows that the government has intention of at least committing genocide. I mean, our government, our government has launched a case against Israel for not providing food to people. Now we are here in South Africa. The very same government cannot provide food to the people that are dying in the same land.”
11. Community volunteer rescuers leaving the site
12. Police personnel at the entrance leading to the mine shaft
STORYLINE:
South Africa’s government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country’s North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining.
The miners in the mineshaft in Stilfontein are believed to be suffering from a lack of food, water and other basic necessities after police closed off the entrances used to transport their supplies underground.
It is part of the police’s Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole, operation, which includes cutting off miners’ supplies to force them to return to the surface and be arrested.
Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the national police said that following consultation with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the decision was made that "no police officer, no soldier, no government official" will go down the mine due to safety concerns.
“Community members are stepping in and demanding to go and rescue these illegal miners themselves," she said, adding that they were being made to sign indemnity forms and that the risks involved had been explained.
North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said information received from those who recently helped bring three miners to the surface indicated that as many as 4,000 miners may be underground.
Police have not provided an official estimate.
In the past few weeks, over 1,000 miners have surfaced at various mines in North West province, with many reported to be weak, hungry and sickly after going for weeks without basic supplies.
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