South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a safe resolution to the standoff between police and hundreds of illegal miners trapped in an abandoned mine shaft in the country’s North West province. The police cut off food and water supplies to force the miners out, aiming to arrest them for illegal mining—a persistent issue in the country. While more than 1,000 miners have already emerged, it is believed that hundreds remain underground. Ramaphosa defends the police’s efforts to arrest the illegal miners, acknowledging the site as a crime scene. However, he urged them to respect the miners’ rights and avoid endangering their lives in their bid to enforce the law. Illegal mining costs South Africa billions in lost revenue every year, with the Stilfontein mine being the latest flashpoint. Ramaphosa promised cooperation with the mining sector to address the issue.
SOURCE: REUTERS
