Klerksdorp Record, Stilfontein - The town is a name irrevocably connected to South Africa’s mining sector, now even more with the international attention garnered with the trapped illegal miners.
But, according to Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), it is high time that the country makes global mining headlines for the right reasons.
“The saga of the illegal miners in the Buffelsfontein Mine in Stilfontein caught the attention of global news agencies and painted a skewed picture of mining in South Africa. It was and still is disheartening. We should be able to dictate what the picture of one of our most valuable sectors looks like.
“Our mines are resources of immense value, and they can contribute even more to the fortunes of all South Africans. We need the world to know this, and we need the world to see this. In 2023, the mining sector contributed more than R200 billion to our gross domestic product. It is a sector that employs more than 470 000 people. These are not insignificant numbers,” said Prof Tyobeka.
He was talking about the NWU’s pursuit to establish a School of Mines and Mining Engineering in Rustenburg. “The mines are feeder veins to their surrounding communities and a lifeline to countless households. The establishment of this school will address the evolving need of South Africa’s mining industry. The mining sector remains the backbone of South Africa’s economy, fuelling job creation, exports and industrial growth. Rich in minerals like gold, platinum and rare earths, mines are pivotal to global supply chains. With responsible governance and innovation, mining can drive sustainable development, uplift communities and secure the nation’s economic resilience.”
This week, Cape Town hosted the Investing in African Mining Indaba, which is the largest conference of its kind in the world.
“The country and the continent need events like this to show that we will not be defined by failures that make for sensational reading, like Stilfontein, but by current successes and those to come.
“We are the world’s largest producer of platinum, with about 70% of global production hailing from South Africa. We are also a notable exporter of gold, iron ore, manganese, chromium, diamonds and more. We are a global mining power, not a refuge for zama-zamas and their exploitation tactics. Let us take hands and work together to show the world who we are,” Prof Tyobeka concluded.
Zamas: Help identify the bodies
Klerksdorp Record, Stilfontein - The police ask help to identify 78 bodies of supposed illegal miners that were recovered from underground.
As part of ongoing investigations into the inquest dockets regarding the dead miners retrieved at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine’s shaft no 11 during the Mine Rescue Operation, relatives of the deceased are requested to come forward for the identification process.
Family members are requested to meet with the investigation team at Stilfontein Police Station on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 08:00 and 15:00.
Enquiries regarding the matter can be directed to Lt-Col Francois Jacobs, 082 373 8126.
Meanwhile, Health MEC Sello Lehari told the media on Wednesday February 5 that the autopsies on the bodies of the Stilfontein miners were completed. He said forensic pathologists from the department have been working around the clock to complete this work, that will ultimately assist in the process of verification and identification of these bodies.
