Mining organisation threatens legal action against government over treatment of illegal miners in Stilfontein

JOHANNESBURG - The Mining Affected Communities United In Action says it’s mulling legal action against government for what it calls the inhumane treatment of illegal miners in Stilfontein in the North West.

The move comes after law enforcement intensified Operation Vala Umgodi meant to address rampant crime in the area linked to illicit mining at abandoned shafts.

The controversial operation has seen police block off basic supplies to the miners underground in a bid to draw them out of the shafts.

READ: Mchunu dismisses calls for illegal Stilfontein miners not to be arrested when they resurface

Since the start of the operation, more than one thousand illegal miners have been arrested.

One body was also retrieved from a shaft in Stilfontein earlier this week.

National coordinator of the mining organisation Meshack Mbangula says it wants to hold government accountable for depriving the miners of food and water.

 “People have the right to food. People in prison have three meals so what’s wrong with these people who are not allowed to get food? They are weak and dying so government has to be held accountable for killing people because it’s them who are killing people. Nobody died when they were still allowed to get food.”