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Sunday World reports that a total of 152 illegal miners have been retrieved from underground at Shaft 11 of the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, North West, since the start of government’s rescue operation on Monday.
National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe advised that as at 19h45 on Tuesday, 152 illegal miners had been extracted from underground. Out of the illegal miners retrieved, 92 were alive, and 60 were dead. Mathe indicated that Tuesday’s government operation was set to continue until 10pm. She stated that from the total 152 extracted by 19h45 on Tuesday, 92 have been arrested. “All (those) that have been arrested are facing illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the immigration act charges. Two illegal miners who were found in possession of gold have also been charged with being in the illegal possession of gold-bearing material,” Mathe advised. She said the joint operation would continue to provide a regular update on the figures on a daily basis. Government’s rescue operation to retrieve the illegal miners holed underground began on Monday morning. It is working with rescue company Mines Rescue Services (MRS) to retrieve the illegal miners. They are holed underground in Shaft 11 of the old Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein. The rescue operation will cost government an estimated R12-million.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Koka at Sunday World
- Read too, Operation to retrieve illegal Stilfontein miners off to good start, say mine rescue experts, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page