“We are being diverted” from extortion claims, says top policeman

STILFONTEIN – Police in the North West have retracted their claims that fraudsters foiled attempts to bring illegal miners from an abandoned shaft in Stilfontein to the surface.

Last week it came to light that Authorities were investigating a community leader in the area.

The man allegedly demanded a 30% cut in costs from a team of rescuers deployed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to the old Buffelsfontein gold mine.

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Contractors on site were tasked with developing a plan to bring the zama zamas, or illegal miners, to the surface and shut down the illegal underground network that had been operating for years.

The operation, which started recently, reportedly costs over R1 million a day.

Patrick Asaneng, the provincial deputy commissioner for police, dismissed the extortion allegations.

“None of the mine rescue teams have ever said, ‘I’ve been approached, I’ve been extorted,’ but there’s a narrative to it, and for us as police, it’s tantamount to chasing ghosts. We get sidetracked into focusing on non-existent issues and then we lose focus.”