Govt won't help criminals stay underground - Ntshavheni

The government launched a multi-disciplinary operation in response to escalating criminal activity, including mass shootings believed to be linked to turf wars over illicit mining operations.

As part of the operation, the South African Police Service and the National Defence Force have blocked access routes for water and essentials to illegal miners.

So far, more than 1,000 miners, many believed to be from neighbouring Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, have resurfaced due to hunger and dehydration.

However, authorities estimate that around 4,500 miners remain underground, many in poor health and suffering from severe weakness and illness.

In response to growing concerns over the operation, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced a fact-finding mission scheduled for Thursday.

This follows complaints about the constitutionality of the operation.

In a media briefing on Wednesday, Ntshavheni strongly defended the operation, reiterating the government's stance of not intervening to rescue those who chose to remain underground.

 "South Africans, do you want us to send help to criminals?" she asked.

"We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals; criminals are to be persecuted, not helped."

"We didn't send them there, and they didn't go down there for the benefit of South Africa, so we can't help them.

"Those who want to help them must go and send the food down there. They will come out, and we will arrest them," said Ntshavheni.

Ntshavheni further questioned the risks of sending law enforcement or military personnel to assist, highlighting the potential danger of underground explosions.

"You want us to send our law enforcement officers to risk because criminals want to destroy our country?

 "What if the place explodes and caves in? Should we risk lives for criminals who have put themselves in harm's way?" she added.

"What will happen? So families must continue to sacrifice because criminals got themselves in a bind, and we must come to their rescue? We are not sending any help; they will come out," said Ntshavheni.

"Whether we are going to retrieve the bodies, it is not our job to retrieve criminals,"

Authorities have estimated that illegal mining costs South Africa over R70 billion annually in lost gold revenues alone.

 Operation Vala Umgodi, launched in December 2023, has already seen significant progress in combating illegal mining across seven provinces.

 To date, more than 13,600 suspects have been arrested, with law enforcement focusing on dismantling illicit mining networks and apprehending those operating in abandoned shafts.

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