Cape Town – At least 11 illegal miners resurfaced from the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein as Operation Vala Umgodi continues, reports said on Monday.
The initiative, which aims to dismantle illegal mining networks, includes a newly appointed task team and mine rescue experts focusing on shaft 11.
The miners who surfaced overnight emerged from a separate shaft, while others fled back underground to evade arrest, EWN reported.
[BREAKING NEWS] 11 suspected illegal miners have resurfaced at shaft 10 in #Stilfontein in the North West.
Tune into #Newzroom405 for more. pic.twitter.com/frAejkf3Dc
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 25, 2024
“Eleven illegal miners just got out at shaft 10 which is linked to shaft 11 – proving that they are not trapped – they just refuse to resurface. They chose to come out late at night, thinking police are no more standing static.
“Others ran back into the shaft as soon as they noticed the police presence,” The Citizen quoted Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
