GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,
GOOD Secretary-General
16 January 2025
The GOOD party supports the call for a Commission of Inquiry into government’s delayed response to the humanitarian crisis in Stilfontein, costing potentially dozens of lives.
The courts have made it clear the role of government in protecting the right to life of all individuals within our borders, as provided for in our constitution.
It is astonishing that the situation was allowed to drag on for months and was only “resolved” because our government was taken to court and forced to prioritse life.
The bodies of illegal miners which have been brought to the surface, affirms the dire situation below ground, which is supported by the physical state of the zama zama’s who have surfaced and been arrested.
There is increasing evidence provided by the community and in the testimony of the illegal miners that kingpins are in control of the illegal mining situation.
A vast majority of those trapped 2,000 metres below the earths surface, were merely victims of socio-economic issues, like unemployment and the lack of economic opportunities. Many of the illegal miners claim to have been brought to the mine under false pretences, with some claiming kidnapping and forced work.
Middlemen are alleged to have controlled access to food and water in the shaft.
While a large proportion of the miners are foreign, the local community is made up of many foreign and local former miners who live without livelihoods due to the closing down of mines.
This greatly contributes to the desperation that leads to such illegal mining practices.
It is the responsibility of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) to ensure mine licensees properly close and rehabilitate mines when ending their operations.
The state has also committed to ensuring adequate livelihoods where possible in communities dependent on the income from closed mining operations.
However the state has argued that Buffelsfontein Gold Mine was not closed and in a state of disrepair but rather that the owners still maintained a valid operating license and had merely paused operations.
GOOD calls for an Inquiry to determine clarity on this grey area of legislation.
In addition, the party calls on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to ensure that law enforcement focuses its attention on the illegal mining kingpins who abuse the desperation of others for illicit financial gains and put our communities at risk.
Government has failed to tackle the underlying socio-economic issues that contribute to illegal mining.
The party calls on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to ensure that Operation Vala Umgodi and law enforcement focuses its attention on the illegal mining kingpins who abuse the desperation of others for illicit financial gains and put our communities at risk.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General
Cell: 082 5183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za