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Speaker Notes: Sabie visit by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service: General SF Masemola (SOEG) 5 December 2024
In the last 24 hours, the South African Police Service has been leading a recovery operation of illegal miners who could not exit a shaft they were conducting illegal mining activities within in Sabie, Mpumalanga. Three bodies were retrieved yesterday and the operation had to be halted due to a need for more resources and lighting to retrieve these illegal miners. Thus far, a total of ten illegal miners who are alive were retrieved. All ten have been arrested and are in police custody. The ten include those who got out of the shaft on their own to seek for help. According to those that have resurfaced, there are more than 100 illegal miners that are still underground. It should be noted that all those who are retrieved will be arrested and face charges related to contravention of the immigration act and other illegal mining related charges where applicable. The speed at which our search and rescue teams as well as our operational members responded to this crisis and the delicate manner in which they are managing the operation must be applauded and commended. The role of emergency medical services under the department of health, the Department of Home Affairs and other key stakeholders including private security companies working closely with our members must also be commended. It must be noted that more resources are required to retrieve more of these illegal miners. We are at this stage, looking at what can be done and what resources are needed to save lives. Notwithstanding the illegality of these activities, the loss of life is deeply regretted. This further demonstrates and points out that illegal mining is not only hazardous and possesses a challenge for neighbouring communities but also carries a lot of danger for those partaking in these illicit activities, as quite often illegal miners risk their lives to mine in unsafe and hazardous conditions. Ladies and gentlemen, Mpumalanga is one of the seven provinces that has been identified as hot spots for illegal mining activities. There have been Vala Umgodi teams deployed in this province to assist local police to prevent and combat these illicit activities. It is important to reflect on incidents that took place before the discovery of these illegal miners in this abandoned shaft. On the 28th of November, members of Lydenburg K9 Unit were busy conducting an operation in the Sabie – Pilgrims Rest area, when members received information about a shooting happening in the plantations at South shaft, Sabie. The members rushed to the area where they stopped their vehicles at a safe distance and continued on foot through the plantations. A few meters away from the Shaft, shots were fired towards the members. The members took cover and observed the situation. The members noticed about eleven (11) suspects all armed with rifles shooting towards the members. The members returned fire in an act of self-defence. The battle lasted about 30-40 minutes. The suspects then started running back into the bushes. A member from the K-9 Unit was shot and injured and taken to hospital. He has fortunately been discharged from hospital. Three suspects were fatally wounded and the following items were seized 2 X AK47 rifles and 500 rounds of AK 47 ammunition were seized. This is a clear indication that these illicit miners are often heavily armed and will go to great lengths to continue with their illicit mining activities. From December 2023 to date, more than 427 high calibre firearms and more than 10 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized from these illegal mining operations. Ladies and gentlemen, the risk of loss of life in such unregulated mining operations is the very reason why Operation Vala Umgodi was established and implemented in December 2023. The increase in illegal mining activities in seven hot spot provinces which include Mpumalanga where we are this morning and in the North West Province where we are heading to later this afternoon, called for an immediate integrated and multidisciplinary approach to put a stop to these illicit mining activities. While we are making progress with more than 15 000 arrests since December 2023, we are of the view that more needs to be done to prevent, combat and put a stop to these illicit mining activities. We need all South Africans and other key stakeholders to take a stand against such activities before such loss of life is recorded. We do believe more lives can be saved if communities ACT and blow the whistle on illegal mining in their areas. It is thus important that when communities become aware of such activity, they may be reported to the nearest police station or call the crime stop number, whistle blowers are reminded that they may remain anonymous. As the South African Police Service we remain steadfast in our resolve to deal with these illicit mining activities that are often associated with other crimes such as murders, contravention of the immigration act, robbery, fraud, and money laundering. Through OPERATION VALA UMGODI we are confident that through our operations, we will ultimately hold those who are the ringleaders and kingpins to account to the loss of life and high levels of criminality that is taking place underground. We are investigating allegations of human trafficking and forced labour in these mining operations by those who have resurfaced, we are also investigating allegations that some are being kept against their will by heavily armed guards who are controlling what is happening underground. At this present moment, we are looking at various resources within our disposal that will assist to fast track the process of retrieving these illegal miners. Unlike the shafts in Stilfontein, which are several kilometres deep, police are able to retrieve those in Sabie from the surface because the distance between the surface and these illegal miners is not too deep as compared to the Stilfontein mine shafts. This operation needs to be conducted with the outmost care and precision it deserves to preserve lives. We are heading to Stilfontein later this afternoon to monitor the situation on the ground. An update will be provided on how the rescue mission will be approached. In the last 24 hours, six dead bodies have been retrieved in Stilfontein, we are awaiting the post-mortem reports to confirm the cause of death of these illegal miners. At least 26 illegal miners have resurfaced from various shafts in the last two days in the Stilfontein area. To date, more than 1387 illegal miners have resurfaced in recent weeks. Those arrested include 919 mozambicans, 382 zimbabweans, 65 basotho and 13 South Africans. We stand firm and in support of our operations in Stilfontein and still maintain that it is not safe for any human being to be underground in those disused mine shafts. This matter is before court and we are currently implementing a court order that has ordered that we provide food to these illegal miners. For us to win this war, we are going to need everyone to come on board to support the work of the police. Alone, we cannot do it, but collectively we will win this fight. I THANK YOU!
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