GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,
GOOD Secretary-General
11 January 2025
The GOOD Party welcomes the court ruling by the Pretoria High Court ordering government to initiate rescue operations in Stilfontein.
The judge ordered government to immediately contract Mine Rescue Services to assist in the operations at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein. And in the interim to ensure the uninterrupted supply of food, water, and medical necessities.
The application was brought by Lawyers for Human Rights on behalf of Zinzi Tom, whose brother, Ayanda Tom, is among the trapped miners.
Zinzi has maintained that her brother is a decent man, who left a life of gangsterism and turned to illegal mining to make a living.
The court ruling once again upholds the fundamental right to life, guaranteed by Section 11 of the Constitution.
This right has been tested numerous times and has always prevailed.
Whether a citizen, documented or undocumented immigrant, this right has been protected by our courts.
As GOOD we have maintained the first responsibility should be to provide lifesaving supplies and rescue plans, only after which any legal processes can take place.
The Stilfontein saga is a crisis of governments own making.
They have failed to tackle the underlying socio-economic issues that contribute to illegal mining, like unemployment and the lack of economic opportunities.
GOOD hopes this ruling is not too late and the lives of those trapped can still be saved.
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