Human rights lawyer advocate Mametlwe Sebei says the driving force behind the actions of Zama Zamas stuck underground in a disused mine in Stilfontein in the North West province is poverty.
He says while the Zama Zamas are committing a crime, their rights to life and safety are enshrined in the country’s constitution.
This comes as the High Court in Pretoria granted an interim order, allowing emergency personnel access to the disused shaft, to help those stuck underground and for the miners to exit.
The court also ruled that only emergency personnel are allowed to enter the shaft. Sebei explains, “These individuals are committing a crime of poverty. Many of the mine workers involved are forming a registered company. I’ve been informed that they were given one mine dump and are in the process of regularizing their operations and applying for permits. Clearly, in the absence of state support—particularly regarding equipment, access to capital, and market opportunities—organized criminal syndicates have taken advantage of this situation.
These syndicates are now terrorizing communities and engaging in heinous acts such as violent murders, rapes, and other horrific criminal activities.”
The court also ruled that only emergency personnel could enter the shaft.
Sebei explains, “These are people committing a crime of poverty. Many of these mine workers who are involved are forming a company that already has been registered. I’m told they were given one mine dump and they are in the course of regularising and applying the thing. Obviously, in the absence of state support, particularly with equipment, access to capital, and the market -most importantly, what you have is organized criminal syndicates that have now entered that vehicle, and what they do is terrorizing communities, engage in acts of violent murders, rapes, and all these horrific criminal activities.”
