The North Gauteng High Court dismissed an application by a coalition called the Stilfontein Solidarity Committee (SSC).
In response to Monday’s court decision, the Mining Affected Communities United in Action and Mining Affected by Mining
United in Action (MACUA-WAMUA) said the government needs to expedite the process of retrieving miners.
“We have also taken note that a 14-year-old is claimed to be among the miners that have surfaced. If this is true, then it reaffirms MACUA’s ongoing call for the sector to be regulated said Magnificent Mndebele of MACUA.
The coalition continues to maintain that the miners are trapped underground.
Fanie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in an update, about 14 miners resurfaced on Sunday evening.
He said resurfacing, proves that they are not trapped, they just refuse to resurface.
“They chose to come out late at night, thinking police are no more standing static.
Others ran back into the shaft as soon as they noticed the police presence.
They are all Mozambicans and are all in police cells. Operations continue” according to a statement released by the police.
The Salvation Army is the latest organization to join the South African Council of Churches (SACC) in Stilfontein for a solidarity visit and engagement with the community regarding the zama zama (illegal mining) situation.
Picture: Salvation Army