South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing standoff between police and illegal miners at an abandoned mine in the northwest of the country.
In his recent weekly newsletter, the President acknowledged the precarious nature of the situation, warning it could become volatile. He urged the police to respect the miners’ rights and prioritize their safety.
Reports indicate that dozens of miners have been taken into police custody, while an unspecified number remain hidden underground. Estimates suggest that the number of miners still underground could range from hundreds to thousands.
Ramaphosa described the mine as a “crime scene” and defended the police’s actions in cutting off food and water supplies to compel the miners to surface. “It is standard police practice everywhere to secure a crime scene and to block off escape routes that enable criminals to evade arrest,” he said.
However, a court ruling over the weekend ordered the removal of these restrictions. Food and water have since been sent down the shaft to provide the miners with the strength to resurface.
Ramaphosa also emphasized that the miners’ illegal activities pose significant risks to “our economy, communities, and personal safety.”
