Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), and the Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), brought an urgent application to the Pretoria North High Court, on the matter of the Stilfontein Humanitarian Crisis, to be heard today, 20 December 2024.
The union wants the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, the Minister of Police, and the Minister of Social Development, to protect the rights of miners stuck illegally underground.
Magnificent Mndebele, Spokesperson of MACUA, said the union will argue before the Court that the duty of the South African Police Service (SAPS), is to conduct their law enforcement duties in a manner that respects, protects, promotes, and fulfils human rights in line with their constitutional obligations.
“We are not asking the Police and the state to choose between law enforcement and human dignity; we are merely asking them to ensure that their actions do not violate fundamental rights in the process.”
He said the Government cannot claim to uphold law and order while simultaneously disregarding the Bill of Rights and humanity of the very individuals they seek to police.
“The humanitarian crisis at Stilfontein continues to worsen, in the face of the refusal by the South African Government to act in compliance of the South African Constitution.”
Organizations that have donated food and money thus far are the Khuma community, the Mahlasedi Foundation and the Red Cross.
This is after the Pretoria High Court granted an interim order for food and water supplies to be sent to miners stuck underground.
About 16 people have resurfaced thus far, plus 8 dead bodies that were pulled up.
Two days ago, 27 undocumented children who resurfaced in late November, were set to be repatriated to Mozambique.
MACUA said it will also pledge its support to the community of Stilfontein in a march to the offices of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in Klerksdorp, today, the 20th of December.
Picture: SAPS