Illegal mining: Calls for Gwede Mantashe to intervene in Stilfontein crisis intensify

Illegal mining: Calls for Gwede Mantashe to intervene in Stilfontein crisis intensify! The Good Party has joined the growing chorus demanding Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe step in to address the escalating crisis at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein.

This comes amid a protracted standoff between law enforcement agencies and illegal miners, known as “zama zamas,” occupying the Buffelsfontein mine shafts.

The situation, which has gripped the small mining town for months, reached a critical juncture over two months ago. This was when Police Minister Senzo Mchunu appointed a task team to extract hundreds of zama zamas entrenched underground. The operation forms part of an intensified campaign known as Operation Vala Umgodi (“Close the Hole”), aimed at disrupting the activities of illegal miners operating in the region.

A key component of the operation involved cutting off vital supplies of food, water, and medication from local residents to the illegal miners below. The tactic has been highly controversial, with some arguing it risks creating a humanitarian disaster.

Gwede Mantashe

A Longstanding Crisis

Illegal mining is not a new issue in Stilfontein. The town, once a hub of legal mining activity, has long struggled with the fallout from abandoned mines becoming fertile ground for unlawful operations. The zama zamas, many of whom are foreign nationals, are often part of intricate criminal networks that extract gold illegally, sometimes using unsafe and environmentally destructive methods.

Over the years, officials have periodically addressed the crisis. Minister Mantashe himself has commented on the issue, including a call in 2022 for law enforcement to intensify efforts to dismantle illicit mining operations. Despite these calls, critics argue that little has been done to address the root causes of the crisis or to provide sustainable solutions for communities like Stilfontein.

Calls for Accountability

What has particularly drawn ire is Mantashe’s refusal to visit Stilfontein or actively engage in the current operation to retrieve the illegal miners at the Buffelsfontein mine. While the minister has made public statements on the issue, including denying the existence of a humanitarian crisis, his absence has raised questions about his commitment to resolving the crisis.

In a recent statement, Mantashe urged the zama zamas to exit the mine voluntarily but offered no clear plan for how the government intends to handle their extraction or address the broader implications of illegal mining in the region. His stance has sparked outrage among civil organizations, local leaders, and political commentators.

Good Party Secretary-General Brett Herron has been among the most vocal critics, urging both Mantashe and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to take urgent action. “We call on the mineral and petroleum resources minister and the police minister to work with the teams on the ground to do their ethical and constitutional duty so these individuals are no longer forced to choose between starvation and eating the rotting bodies of their dead,” Herron said, referencing reports of extreme desperation among the trapped miners.

Growing Legal and Public Pressure

In addition to political criticism, some lobby groups have escalated the matter to the Constitutional Court, seeking urgent intervention. These groups argue that the government has a constitutional obligation to ensure the safety and dignity of all people within South Africa, including those who are involved in illegal activities.

The case has brought renewed attention to the broader challenges of illegal mining in South Africa. These include not only the exploitation of abandoned mines but also the often dire conditions faced by zama zamas, who are frequently victims of human trafficking, violence, and exploitation by criminal syndicates.

Meanwhile, the police operation in Stilfontein continues under tense conditions. Law enforcement officials have maintained their blockade of the mine, while local residents remain divided on the issue. Some support the tough stance, seeing it as necessary to reclaim their community from the grip of illegal mining, while others argue it punishes vulnerable individuals who have no other means of survival.

The Way Forward

The crisis in Stilfontein underscores the need for a coordinated and compassionate approach that balances law enforcement with social and economic interventions. Critics of the government’s response argue that tackling illegal mining requires not only shutting down illicit operations but also addressing the socioeconomic drivers that push individuals into these dangerous activities.

For now, however, the calls for Minister Mantashe to step up his involvement continue to grow louder. As the situation in Stilfontein remains unresolved, the need for decisive leadership and a long-term strategy has never been more urgent.

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