Presidency unmoved by claims of ‘starving’ zama zamas
The government has stated that it will not assist the estimated 4,000 zama zamas believed to be trapped underground in North West mines.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the Minister in the Presidency, has stated that the government will not provide assistance to the illegal miners (zama zamas) trapped underground in abandoned mine shafts in Orkney and Stilfontein, North West.
Over 1 000 illegal miners who resurfaced from mines in Orkney and Stilfontein in the North West were arrested recently as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) intensified Operation Vala Umgodi by blocking entrances used by community members to deliver food, water and other necessities to the zama zamas.
GOVERNMENT WON’T ASSIST NORTH WEST ZAMA ZAMAS
During a briefing on Wednesday, 13 November, Ntshavheni emphasised that government would not assist the zama zamas and referred to them as criminals who need to be “persecuted”, not helped.
“You want us to send help to criminals? Honestly, we’re not sending help to criminals. We’re going to smoke them out, they will come out. We’re not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped, criminals are to be persecuted.
“We didn’t send them there, and they didn’t go down there for the good benefit or good intentions for the republic. So, we can’t help them, those who want to help them must go and take the food down there. They will come out and we’ll arrest them,” Ntshavheni said.
COMMUNITY TAKES MATTER INTO OWN HANDS
Ntshavheni’s sentiments come as community members have decided to go down the shaft to deliver food to the zama zamas, who are reportedly sickly and dehydrated.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, a community member said her husband, who is the breadwinner, had been underground for four months. However, she hopes her husband will resurface as the rescue operation is ongoing.
Another community member said the zama zamas were supposed to resurface in September; however, since police have blocked the entry and exit points in the mine shafts, they don’t know whether their loved ones are still alive or have deceased.
Most community leaders expressed concern about the lack of medical emergency services on the scene as the zama zamas are reportedly not well physically.
Meanwhile, 15 zama zamas resurfaced from Margaret Shaft in Stilfontein on Tuesday. These include Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Basotho, and South Africans.
Police said zama zamas would appear before the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court on charges of possessing gold dust, contravention of the Immigration Act (2002) and illicit mining.