Protest to the South African government and police regarding the treatment of miners in the mine in Stilfontein
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- Category: Africa
- Created: Sunday, 01 December 2024 10:41
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The preparatory group for the establishment of the European coordination of miners is protesting against the actions of the South African government against the more than 4,000 miners who are underground in the mine at Stilfontein. For about five weeks they have been cut off from supplies to their families. It is inhumane that the South African police have blocked the entrances and that anyone who comes out is immediately arrested on charges of illegal gold mining.
Police spokesperson Mokgwaone says, ‘[...] they just have to come out.’ A volunteer who has seen the conditions underground reports of deaths and many who are no longer in good health. There have already been over 1000 arrests. The Minister of State Khumbudzo speaks of criminals, does not want to allow any help and even speaks of fumigating them out. Is it criminal for refugees from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to enter the disused gold mine as miners in their hour of need, risking their lives to get a few crumbs of gold out of the earth to feed themselves and their families? The miners have our undivided solidarity. We demand that the government and police do everything necessary to: for the immediate rescue of those remaining underground and the handover of the bodies to their families for a proper burial for health care and decent accommodation for the refugees the decriminalisation and release of the arrested miners the punishment of those responsible in the South African government and police for this inhumane behaviour.
Germany, 28.November 2024
leaders of the preparatory group for the establishment of the European coordination of miners.