The High Court in Pretoria has postponed the main application concerning the stand-off between illegal miners and police at Shaft 11 of a Stilfontein mine in the North West. The civil rights group, Society for the Protection of our Constitution, had sought relief for the miners, whose numbers remain unconfirmed.
Despite the miners not being trapped, police say many are refusing to resurface to avoid arrest. Over 500 miners have exited through an alternative shaft, and authorities maintain that the miners are not trapped, citing evidence from underground communications.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that rescue efforts are ongoing, with plans to assess the site’s safety before sending emergency personnel underground. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is continuing with the operation as directed by the Minister of Police.