The High Court in Pretoria ordered police in a preliminary ruling to stop a standoff with illegal miners and permit rescuers to gain access to a mine where hundreds of people are believed to be hiding.
The court added that all miners working underground at the mine in Stilfontein should be given permission to leave the site and no one should block their exit. The court’s decision is temporary, with a full hearing to take place next week, according to Yasmin Omar, an attorney who helped bring the case to court.
It comes amid growing concern for the welfare of illegal miners, who can spend months underground after police cut off food and water supplies. The South African Human Rights Commission said in a statement that it was investigating police restricting the supply of basic necessities to the miners. While police said at least one decomposed body had been recovered from the mine.
In any case, police welcomed the court order but said it does not prevent the apprehension of illegal miners in good health. Work will continue at all abandoned and unused mines in the Stilfontein area. Police repeated their plea for all illegal miners to come to the surface.
All those who resurface will continue to be assessed by emergency medical personnel on site, as has been the case. Those that are in a good health will be processed and detained. Those that require further medical care will be taken to hospital under police guard, according to police.
