Some residents of Stilfontein near Klerksdorp in the North West say they have taken matters into their own hands, to assist illegal miners who are still underground, as frustrations mount over the lack of government intervention.

Earlier, police said a total of 1 420 illegal miners have surfaced from underground at different disused mine shafts in the area.

According to community representative Johannes Qankase, they are providing food to the illegal miners and facilitating their resurfacing regardless of nationality.

Qankase says the community’s efforts have so far led to retrieving nine bodies.

SABC News reached out to the Department of Community Safety in the province for an update on government efforts regarding the situation and the department declined to provide details, stating they plan to hold a media briefing soon to share their progress.

Qankase says they are continuing with their operation.

He says, ”Even today morning we are here, we are going to start again with our program of helping those who are trapped underground. There is this thing that those people are not trapped they just don’t want to come out, there’s no such thing because every time we threw a rope underground it comes up with a dead body.”

“They are assisting one another underground so that they can come out. We are here as community leaders, as volunteers to come and assist those who are really in need. It’s our objective to save those lives,” Qankase adds.

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