Manhunt launched for escaped zama zama 'ringleader'
Police are searching for an alleged Stilfontein ringleader who vanished after being rescued from Buffelsfontein Gold Mine Shaft 11 in the North West last week.
City Press reports that police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, demanded that maximum resources be dedicated to locating the man known as James Neo ‘Tiger’ Tshoaeli.
According to police, he is a Lesotho national and is implicated in several statements as one of the ringleaders who controlled operations underground.
He is also being accused by some of the artisanal miners of being allegedly responsible for some deaths, assault and torture. He also allegedly hoarded and kept food away from other trapped miners.
The Acting Commissioner has issued a warning that consequences would follow for any officials found to have assisted the suspect in escaping from police custody.
Mathe said that according to records, he was never booked into any of the stations where other miners are being held.
According to police, since Operation Vala Umgodi was launched in December 2023, 17 000 suspected artisanal miners have been arrested and at least 399 firearms have been confiscated.
The EFF has announced its intention to report Kenny Kunene, the deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance, to the SA Human Rights Commission.
This follows Kunene's controversial remarks on social media, where he allegedly threatened violent actions against illegal miners.
IoL reports that Kunene on Sunday shared a graphic picture on X showing two dead, skinned sheep hung on hooks and wrote: ‘This is the chilling fate that awaits all illegal miners robbing South Africans of their natural resources and wealth when the Patriotic Alliance takes over government.’
The EFF condemned the statements as ‘reckless, dehumanising, and a blatant incitement to violence,’ accusing Kunene of using hate speech to garner political support.
The remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing tensions around illegal mining activities, including the Stilfontein tragedy.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
