The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) civic movement says it has applied for direct access to the Constitutional Court, with a view of having the court issuing the order that government itself buys food for illegal miners underground at shaft 11 in Stilfontein in North West.

This is after the High Court in Pretoria dismissed their urgent application on 20 December.

However, the court had ordered that police allow volunteers to provide food and water to illegal miners who are still underground.

However, MACUA wants the court to give the responsibility of buying food to government, as its head of communication, Magnificent Mndebele explains.

“MACUA has asked the Constitutional Court to order the relevant state entities, being the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport management, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Minister of Police, Minister of Social Development, Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well as the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, to within two hours of the court handing down its judgement, provide the trapped artisanal miners at shaft 11 and shaft 10 with humanitarian aid, including sufficient food, water and medication pending the finalisation of the rescue operation,” says Mndebele.

Although government says it is still trying to source the R7.8 million to retrieve illegal miners, Mndebele says they have asked the court to order government start the process immediately.

“We are also asking that the respondents be ordered to immediately commence the rescue operations at shafts 10 and 11, and that the various state entities and Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, provide MACUA and the community members with a weekly progress report regarding the implementation of the rescue plan,” add Mndebele.

VIDEO | North West government says it does not have funds to retrieve miners:

#govzaupdates| Clarifying the situation of illegal miners in #Stilfontein.

[It is a thread 🧵] pic.twitter.com/5wVm1VBldG

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) December 29, 2024

VIDEO| Community members are still continuing with efforts to retrieve.