South Africa: Volunteers Enter Abandoned Mine Shaft to Help Illegal Miners

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Above: Community members are searched by South African Police Service officers before entering the mine shaft to negotiate with artisanal miners underground to resurface in Stilfontein on Nov. 13, 2024. Image copyright: Emmanuel Croset/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Three groups of 50 volunteers have entered an abandoned gold mine in South Africa's North West province to bring aid to illegal miners who are either unwilling or incapable of coming out.

  • This comes after the government earlier this week said it wouldn't assist the miners, and police cut off food and water supplies to force them to come to the surface.

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The Spin

Narrative A

These illegal miners, who voluntarily went into the mine to conduct illicit business, must come back up on their own. If volunteers wish to go down themselves to deliver food, that's fine, but police officers shouldn't risk their lives to help criminals. They will come out eventually and face the prosecution they deserve.

The South African

Narrative B

This strategy is inhumane. While the government's frustration with illegal mining is reasonable, it shouldn't prevent them from saving human lives. After police rescue these individuals from starving to death, they can arrest and prosecute them — but until then, they should follow the principle of ubuntu and show compassion.

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