Retrieval of illegal Stilfontein miners likely to begin on Monday

STILFONTEIN - Illegal miners refusing to resurface at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein are only likely to be brought back to the surface at the start of next week, as government intensifies plans to shut down the underground network.

Hundreds of zama zamas fearing arrest remain underground at a shaft at the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.

A week ago, a task team was deployed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to retrieve the miners.

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Since then, mining experts, local government and law enforcement have been doing groundwork ahead of the implementation the plan.

The portfolio committee for community safety in the North West provincial legislature conducted an oversight visit to the mine on Friday.

Speaking on the sidelines, committee chairperson Freddy Sonakile said they were in possession of a detailed report on work done so far.

"As to when the operations will end, it’s a very difficult one. No one could answer that one, we asked it as well. However, operations from this assessment will probably start on Monday based on the report we got. So from Monday, the real work of retrieving and everything from the assessment will start then."