JOHANNESBURG - The South African Police Service (SAPS) has rejected claims that its officials contributed to the death of illegal miners at an illegal mine in Stilfontein in the North West.
According to national and provincial police officials, there's evidence to prove that illegal miners have been dying underground long before Operation Vala Umgodi.
READ | Operation at Stilfontein to continue until police are satisfied
This was revealed on Monday during the National Inquiry into the policy framework around artisanal mining facilitated by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
Speaking at the inquiry, SAPS National Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, said if one were to observe the skeleton remains retrieved from underground, it could not have been people who died during police operations.
Backing Masemola's argument was North West Acting Police Commissioner, Patrick Asaneng, who said expert advice showed that conditions underground were dangerous in terms of methane gas.
January 15 marked a year since the Stilfontein mine rescue operation came to an end with exits to the abandoned mineshaft being sealed off.
A total of 78 bodies were retrieved from underground and 246 illegal miners rescued alive.
Police had descended on the mine, cutting off the supply of food and water. This forced the miners to the surface where they were subsequently arrested.
READ | One year since Stilfontein mine tragedy
In this joint operation, over 1000 illegal miners have been arrested in Stilfontein.
Many of them were muddy and dirty after being underground for months and some for years. Among those were youth.
Many claimed they found themselves trapped in this work after being promised jobs or allegedly being trafficked and forced to go underground.