South Africa: Trapped illegal miners could be 'rescued'

South Africa Police Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says rescue experts have met and a retrieval operation for illegal miners in an abandoned mine is being worked out.

This follows the standoff between the miners and police that has dragged for more than a month.

Authorities say the illegal miners are not trapped but have refused to emerge from the abandoned mine for fear of being arrested by waiting police officers.

‘We are continuing, as directed by the Minister of Police, with the rescue plan. Yesterday, the rescue experts met, and they have indicated that they will be starting with a rescue mission," Mathe told reporters on Tuesday.

Rescue operation plan

A South African High Court hearing over the main application over the standoff was postponed on Tuesday, state broadcaster SABC reports.

Mathe says a rescue operation plan is being considered but raised concerns over risks.

"We know that, because of the risks as well, they will be putting a camera down there to assess first.

The organisation, Society for the Protection of our Constitution, approached the court for relief of the illegal miners still underground after food and water were blocked by authorities.

Last week, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the government will not offer any assistance to the illegal miners who were blocked from receiving food and water.

'Peaceful resolution'

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa also noted that illegal miners’ activities posed a risk to “our economy, communities, and personal safety." He, however, called for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

“The miners, who entered the mine to conduct illegal mining operations, face arrest. The operation forms part of the nationwide Operation Vala Umgodi, which continues to register gains in cracking down on illicit mining activities across the country,” Ramaphosa said on Monday.

South African police say they have information that some of the miners may be “heavily armed” and that the “legal miners are recruited by criminal gangs and form part of wider organised crime syndicates.”

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