STILFONTEIN - National Police Spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says officers will not be going underground to rescue illegal miners at a mine in Stilfontein.
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Mathe says the zama zamas could be heavily armed, posing a serious risk to officers.
She also emphasised that the safety of law enforcement personnel is a primary concern in the ongoing operation.
Meanwhile a Stilfontein community leader has slammed the government's response to the illegal miners who remain underground, calling it an act of genocide.
He claims that more miners want to emerge from the abandoned shaft but are too weak after the government cut off their food and water supplies.
READ: Illegal mining | Zama zamas emerge weak and in poor health
The leader further accused authorities of failing to assist in safely bringing the miners to the surface. A body of one zama zama was retrieved from the shaft today.