3 Illegal Miners Die After Cave Collapse in Nuttaboy Mine, 10 Others Rescued in Northern Cape
- Three illegal miners died and 10 more were trapped in the Nuttaboy Mine when the ground above caved in
- A Northern Cape community leader has urged government officials to legalise mining in the area as poverty is rife
- Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane said illegal mining is a criminal matter
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NORTHERN CAPE - Calls for Government to legalise mining in Kliensee in the Northern Cape have been voiced after three illegal miners were killed and 10 others had to be rescued when a tunnel collapsed on them at the Nuttaboy Mine.
Community leader Paul Swartbooi said residents in the area are willing to put their lives on the line to earn a living.
Source: Getty Images
He pleads with Government to legalise small scale-diamond miners in Namaland to allow people to work under proper regulations and conditions. Swartbooi said the area faces extreme poverty, according to SABC News.
Meanwhile, MinisterDeputy Minster of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane said the department is in the process of creating a plan for small-scale miners. She was speaking at the Northern Cape Provincial Mining Investment Conference on 10 March. Nkabane added that illegal mining is a criminal matter that needs to be addressed, Mining Weekly reported.
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Social media users irate over illegal mining
@chefmagoro said:
“Rescued by state resources? While they are illegal, and they fail to increase the salary of legal workers... Let me tool.”
@MogonoNkele posted:
“Those rescued should have been left there...”
@SelbyNhleko commented:
“Only 3? I am disappointed.”
@LeraLMC
“Good riddance. Why were they rescued?”
Police launch investigation after 4 wrapped bodies believed to be illegal miners found on Benoni road
Briefly News also reported four bodies, believed to be illegal miners, were found wrapped up and left on the side of a road in Benoni, Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Gauteng police received an anonymous call alerting them of the bodies wrapped in blankets and plastic.
The bodies have not been identified, however, a post-mortem will be conducted to find the cause of death, according to TimesLIVE. Police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said an inquest docket is being investigated. Police also found six bodies dumped next to a railway line in 2017 in the area, News24 reported.
Source: Briefly News
