By Everson Luhanga
- 17 more illegal miners emerged from dangerous mine shafts in North West after labouring underground.
- Most of the miners are from neighbouring countries and face charges of illegal mining.
More illegal miners are crawling out of deadly mine shafts in Stilfontein, North West, as police wait above ground to arrest them.
On Thursday, 17 more zama zamas came up from the dark tunnels where they had been digging for gold.
Police remain determined to make arrests, despite human rights groups urging them to leave the emerging miners alone.
Police spokesman Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said 14 miners surfaced at Margaret Shaft while three others came up at Shaft Number 10.
“The 14 illegal miners who resurfaced at Margaret Shaft are foreign nationals from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. They are still being processed,” he said.
The day before, 20 other miners emerged from Margaret Shaft – 10 from Lesotho, six from Zimbabwe and four from Mozambique.
The miners have been walking for kilometres underground through dangerous tunnels. Some are coming out through Harmony Gold mine shafts, even though these shafts belong to a different mine.
Mine experts have sent cameras down the holes to find the safest way to get the miners out.
Police expect more zama zamas to surface from the abandoned mine shafts in the coming days.
About 300 illegal miners appeared in court in Stilfontein on Thursday. They are charged with illegal mining and breaking immigration laws.
Pictured above: Stilfontein mine shaft.
Source: Supplied
