By Levy Masiteng
Specialised police teams have been deployed to the Nkaneng dumping site near Rustenburg as authorities continue rescue, recovery and investigative operations following the collapse that killed 14 suspected illegal miners.
Police are also investigating how the miners gained access to the site, where a company had been granted permission to recover platinum group metals (PGM).
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The 14 miners died after part of an excavated section collapsed on Monday night while they were allegedly digging manually for PGMs.
North West SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams said police were alerted to the incident at about 21h00.
“A group of suspected zama-zamas was conducting an illegal mining operation at a dumping site,” Adams said.
He said a company had been granted a permit to extract PGMs at the site, but the suspected illegal miners were allegedly working inside an excavated area when its walls collapsed.
“Mine security was alerted by another zama-zama who reportedly fled the area after reporting the incident.”
Police later recovered the bodies of 14 miners. Most of those who died are believed to be Basotho nationals.
Eight other people were rescued and taken to hospital.
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Three were subsequently discharged and detained for contravening the Immigration Act, while five remained in hospital under police guard.
“The immediate priority remains the safe rescue and recovery of anyone who may still be underground, with all relevant resources being mobilised to support the operation,” SAPS said.
Police are also investigating how the suspected illegal miners entered the authorised mining area and were able to operate there.
“Illegal mining takes place outside regulated mining environments, often without proper safety measures, oversight or lawful working conditions,” Adams said.
He said people entering abandoned or active mining areas faced potentially deadly hazards, including rock falls.
An inquest has been opened to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
