SADC called to help trace families of teen Stilfontein miners

STILFONTEIN - Police and Social Development are investigating human trafficking and slave labour cases in the North West.

This comes after a group of teenagers emerged from an abandoned Stilfontein mine shaft.

To date, 96 of the over 1,000 that have emerged are under 18.

The teenagers claim they were forced underground and forced to work by heavily armed men.

Efforts are underway with SADC partners to trace their families and provide support.

North West Social Development MEC, Sussana Dantjie, says contact has been made with Mozambique and counselling is being offered to the teens in custody.