Police slam ‘misinformation’ regarding their Stilfontein operations

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has condemned what it labels as misinformation regarding the Stilfontein rescue efforts of illegal miners.

Police have been at Stilfontein since last year, blocking supply routes for food and water for illegal miners.

The miners, who had been working underground in disused mine shafts, initially refused to resurface, fearing arrest. However, since November 2024, the illegal miners have resurfaced, although some did not make it.

ALSO READ: At least 95 undocumented children among illegal miners arrested at Stilfontein

As of Friday, the number of retrieved bodies stood at 78.

Stilfontein ‘misinformation’

Police have condemned the sharing of personal information about the retrieved illegal miners, as they are still suspects.

“The SAPS shared a list of those who have resurfaced and been retrieved with two community leaders. This was done first to ensure transparency with communities and also to ensure that community members assist the police in finding the next of kin of those involved in the illegal mining operations,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

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“The SAPS has since learned with dismay that these lists, which include names, nationalities, and birth dates, have been widely shared on various social media platforms. The SAPS is therefore investigating the sharing of suspects’ personal information in public.”

Mathe further denied claims that shaft 10 of the disused Stilfontein mine has been blasted by police.

“The SAPS, upon receiving such allegations, instructed its explosives team to inspect shaft 10 for any signs of explosion; it was found that no such blasting or bombing, as is referred to, took place.”

Parole violations

Police further dismissed allegations that they had arrested one of the volunteers during their operations.

The department of correctional services said on Saturday that the volunteer, Mzwandile Mkwayi, was not arrested or detained. He was taken to the Klerksdorp Community Corrections Office for administrative purposes, as he is currently a parolee.

“Mr Mkwayi has been on parole since 15 April 2021. His sentence, which commenced following a conviction for murder on 16 September 2013, is set to expire on 15 September 2028,” said spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo.

He allegedly violated his parole conditions by leaving his designated jurisdiction without prior notification or approval from his monitoring officials.

“Adherence to jurisdictional boundaries is a critical aspect of parole conditions to ensure proper monitoring,” said Nxumalo.

ALSO READ: Stilfontein: Sanco claims volunteer was arrested but police deny it

He also engaged with media outlets without securing prior authorisation, which constitutes another breach of his parole conditions.

“The Department of Correctional Services has issued a formal warning to Mr. Mkwayi for these violations. He remains on parole and will continue to be monitored in accordance with the conditions of his parole placement until the sentence expiry date.”