Thursday, 28 November 2024

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are concerned by the shocking revelations from the Stilfontein mine, where 96 undocumented children, believed to have been trafficked, were found among illegal miners working under inhumane and lifethreatening conditions. Even more distressing is the confirmation that as many as 100 children are still believed to be trapped underground, held hostage to the horrors of modern slavery.

The presence of children from Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho solidifies the fact that this is not merely an issue of illegal mining but a devastating indictment of cross-border child trafficking and exploitation. Reports of children being sexually violated, forced into hazardous labour, and subjected to the control of heavily armed criminal syndicates are catastrophe that cannot be ignored.

The EFF reiterates its initial response to the Stilfontein mine situation: that any operation to deal with illegal mining must be conducted with meticulous care to avoid turning it into a humanitarian disaster. The “Vala Umgodi” operation, which sought to block off mine shafts and cut off food and water supplies, has only worsened the suffering of those trapped underground. The crude approach of “smoking out” miners without assessing the dire circumstances underground has not only failed but exposed the sheer negligence of authorities who have turned a blind eye to the potential loss of life and gross human rights violations.

It is now clear that the Stilfontein mine crisis is a result of the ANC government’s failure to hold mining companies accountable for their responsibility to manage these abandoned mines. The government’s heavy-handed response, characterised by  militarisation and starvation tactics, has shown no regard for the lives of those underground, especially the children who are victims of trafficking and coercion.

It is critical to recognise the organised and violent nature of the criminal syndicates operating underground. In light of this, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has once again failed South Africans by performing interventions that were not informed by information and research. Intelligence-driven operations were essential in this situation to dismantle these sophisticated syndicates, as brute-force tactics only exacerbate the crisis and endanger the lives of potential victims.

We call on the Department of Social Development to prioritise the welfare of the rescued children and ensure their safe reunification with their families or placement in protective care. South Africa cannot be a haven for human trafficking, and it is the government’s duty to safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable among us.

ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Leigh-Ann Mathys (National Spokesperson) 082 304 7572

Thato Lebyane (Media Enquiries) 078 304 7572