IOL News reports that an NGO – the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) – intends to enlist drone technology to assess and document the underground conditions at disused shafts of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.
This as the SA Police Service (SAPS) continues its “Vala Umgodi” operation – aimed at tackling illegal mining activities. According to Macua, the proposal for drone technology was to work towards a speedy resolution of the Stilfontein humanitarian crisis. A site visit by Macua along with the Stilfontein Solidarity Committee (SSC) and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) at the Stilfontein mineshaft was conducted on Tuesday. Macua spokesperson, Magnificent Mndebele, indicated: “We have sent another proposal to the State in which we explain that Macua has successfully secured funds to engage the services of a drone expert who will utilise a specialised drone to assess and document the underground conditions at Shafts 10 and 11 of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.” Mndebele added: “This process will be conducted in an open and transparent manner to ensure fairness and accountability … The footage that can be obtained by the drone will serve to illuminate the circumstances underground, thereby facilitating informed decision-making about the urgency of the rescue operation, (over) which the State has dragged its feet for the past two months.” LHR spokesperson, Mametlwe Sebei, said after the site visit that the “situation has become more dire and desperate”.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chevon Booysen at IOL News
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