A further 340 illegal miners have resurfaced from an underground mine in Orkney in the North West, the police said on Sunday. On Saturday, 225 dehydrated illegal miners were arrested after emerging from underground.
A FURTHER 340 illegal miners have resurfaced from an underground mine in Orkney in the North West, the police said on Sunday.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that as of noon on Sunday, at least 565 illegal miners have exited the mine and come up to the surface.
“The acting national commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, has commended the teams on the ground and encouraged them not to back down and ensure that the rule of law is restored,” Mathe said.
On Saturday, 225 dehydrated illegal miners were arrested after emerging from underground.
The police said the miners resurfaced due to malnutrition and dehydration.
Mathe said these illegal miners are among hundreds who are trapped below without food, water, or other requirements.
“This is because the Vala Umgodi teams led by the SAPS and SANDF are blocking routes used to deliver food and necessities to these illegal miners.”
She went on to say that that earlier this week, the SAPS and members of the SANDF prevented communities in and around these abandoned mining sites in Orkney from delivering food parcels, water, and other necessities to these illegal miners.
“We are closely monitoring the situation that is unfolding in the North West province, we are not backing down until all those illegal miners resurface and are arrested,” said the national commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.