Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
3 December 2024 | 07:50 CAT

Volunteers at Stilfontein mine where some illegal mine workers are still trapped in Orkney, North West. Image: ANTÓNIO MUCHAVE

The Pretoria High Court has granted interim relief allowing humanitarian aid to miners trapped in the Bothell Fountain gold mine in Stilfontein. This decision comes after Lawyers for Human Rights filed an urgent application on behalf of mining-affected communities, citing a worsening humanitarian crisis underground.

The Court’s ruling mandates police to permit the delivery of life-saving supplies, including food, water, and medicine, from community members and charitable organizations. This relief comes after rescue operations halted, leaving miners in dire conditions.

Mameltwe Sebei, representing Lawyers for Human Rights, outlined the dire situation in an interview with Radio Islam International: “Miners have been stuck in treacherous, flooded tunnels for weeks, with limited access to food and water. Many are severely dehydrated and emaciated, making self-rescue impossible for most.”

Sebei highlighted the government’s failure to provide adequate rescue measures. “The Minister’s visit last Friday offered no substantial progress report. Instead, it perpetuated harmful narratives, blaming migrant workers while ignoring the systemic exploitation within the mining industry,” he said.

The Court’s order allows for emergency aid until the miners can be safely rescued. However, challenges persist. While some miners have managed to exit through alternative shafts, their accounts reveal the perilous journey took up to seven days in unsafe, flooded conditions.

The broader rescue effort remains fraught with delays. Sebei criticized the government’s approach: “Stopping emergency supplies was reckless. The majority of trapped miners are South African internal migrants, contrary to the government’s claim that they are primarily foreign nationals.”

The Court is set to reconvene on Thursday to address unresolved issues, including the feasibility of community-led rescue operations and the continuation of supply provisions.

With lives hanging in the balance, advocacy groups urge immediate, sustained action. As Sebei emphasized, “This is not just about supplies—it’s about survival and accountability.”

The humanitarian crisis at Bothell Fountain underscores the urgent need for systemic reform in South Africa’s mining sector to prevent future tragedies.

You can listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Mameltwe Sebei, representing Lawyers for Human Rights, here.