Gwede Mantashe: Relations between South Africa and Lesotho unstrained
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said relations between South Africa and Lesotho are not strained.
This is after he spoke out against illegal miners in the country, claiming many of them were from Lesotho.
Matashe was speaking during a press briefing at Harmony Gold Mine in Welkom on Monday afternoon.
This following news that at least 31 illegal miners died after a methane explosion at an unused shaft in the mine last month.
The incident was reported to Lesotho officials who later informed the mine and the South African government.
Mantashe said he engaged the Minister of Mineral Resources and Mining in Lesotho on the matter.
“At one time he suggested that we take illegal miners to go down and rescue people. I had to tell him that we cannot allow criminals to do that as a government.”
Mantashe said the victims are believed to be 950 meters below the surface and there could still be survivors underground.
“Shaft bottom is 950. It’s a very shallow shaft if it’s 950. That means they are not far from where we are. Some are at the bottom of the shaft, others are in the sections.”
High levels of methane continue to hamper rescue operations following the explosion.
-EWN
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