Rescue operations involving volunteers were under way on Sunday in Stilfontein, southwest of the executive capital Pretoria, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Haru Mutasa, reporting from the site. The rescued men were visibly weakened as they emerged from the mine with the help of volunteers. Others are reportedly too weak to be rescued. Mutasa said it could take up to 45 minutes for the volunteers to rescue one person from the mining shaft.
It is despicable that we have to have this kind of conversation about what to do in the situation involving poor, Black, weakened working-class people, Mametlwe Sebei, a human rights lawyer, told Al Jazeera. They are in very hazardous and in very horrific conditions, Sebei said, urging for the workers' safe return.
Mzukisi Jam, of the South African National Civic Organisation, told Al Jazeera that while his group welcomed the court order, it was disappointed that the government had to be compelled legally to take action to save workers' lives.
Authorities had earlier blocked the mine's entrance, cutting the supply of food and water to those inside, in what police described as a crackdown on alleged illegal mining. The move, however, caused outrage among rights groups and labour organisations.
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