Police probing alleged extortionist demanding cut from Stilfontein rescuers

JOHANNESBURG - Police in the North West are probing claims of extortion after a community leader allegedly demanded a 30% cut from rescue teams working to retrieve illegal miners out of an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein. 

A task team, including mining experts, was deployed to the old Buffelsfontein gold mine a week ago to extract hundreds of zama zamas refusing to resurface. 

The operation is part of law enforcement's ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining in the area. 

READ: Mining experts double up on safety precautions in phase 2 of Stilfontein rescue plan

While the shaft has now been cordoned off for the technical teams to work, community leaders previously volunteered to help bring the illegal miners back to the surface. 

North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said one person tried to extort money from the rescuers contracted on the site. 

"We are starting to see issues of extortion now, which we are saying is totally unacceptable, but this is something we will deal with as the police," said Mokgwabone.

READ: Civil society bands together to challenge govt's handling of Stilfontein mine

While the exact details of the incident are still unclear, Mokgwabone said they know the individual's identity. 

"That is all that I can say for now, but we will deal with it as the police because for us, it's like this person was trying to extort money from the contracts which is something we are discouraging," he said.