Pretoria: The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) says it is assessing and reviewing all relevant information related to an incident involving the deaths of illegal miners at Rustenburg, in the North West.
According to South African Government News Agency, some 14 people died when the walls of an excavated area they were digging in caved in. Scores others have been injured while rescue operations continue.
"The department is currently reviewing all relevant information relating to the incident and will, at an appropriate time, provide further details, including matters related to compliance with applicable laws governing licenses and permits," a departmental statement read. "The DMPR continues to work with law enforcement agencies, mining rights holders and affected communities to strengthen prevention and enforcement efforts against illegal mining," the statement added.
The department further extended its condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the incident. "The loss of life is deeply regrettable, and the DMPR recognises the serious impact such events have on affected communities," the statement continued. "The DMPR confirms that the incident occurred within the boundaries of an area where a valid mining permit has been issued. The department further confirms that the site is a surface opencast mining operation and does not include an underground mine shaft."
Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced on Wednesday that additional specialised capacity will be sent to the area to support the ongoing rescue, recovery and investigative operations. "The deployment of additional specialised capacity is intended to strengthen the North West Province and ensure that every aspect of this operation is approached with the necessary professionalism, expertise and sensitivity," Dimpane stated.
"Our responsibility is not only to establish what happened, but to do so through a thorough, lawful and evidence-driven process. We owe this to the deceased, their families and the broader community. At the same time, we must ensure that the integrity of the investigation is protected," Dimpane added. "We therefore appeal to the public and social media to refrain from speculation and allow the investigators to follow the evidence. Where criminality is established, those responsible will be brought to justice."