South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has expressed his support for Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who recently insisted that the government would not attempt to rescue the illegal miners trapped underground—reportedly numbering in the thousands.
The statement has sparked intense debate across the country, after Ntshavheni labeled the stranded miners as “criminals” and declared that the government would “smoke them out.”
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Ntshavheni said that the government would not put the lives of police officers and military personnel at risk by sending them down the shafts to rescue what she referred to as “criminals.”She said:
<blockquote>
We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped. Criminals are to be persecuted [sic].
We didn’t send them there, and they didn’t go down there for the good benefit or for the good intentions for the Republic. So, we can’t help them.
Those who want to help them, they must go and take the food down there. They will come out, we will arrest them.
</blockquote>
Commenting on X, McKenzie expressed his support for Ntshavheni, adding that there should indeed be “lots of smoke.” He wrote on X in response to a clip of Ntshavheni’s remarks:
<blockquote>
Thank you Minister (Ntshavheni), let there be smoke, lots of smoke… Why don’t we get them some pizza with extra cheese toppings and a few bottles of wine whilst they making they mind up if they want to resurface ? Guns &amp; grenades are being hidden down there, these guys are buying time, no one is trapped, they are simply refusing to come up &amp; out.
</blockquote>
Another South African, Lindo Mnisi, concurred with McKenzie, saying criminality should never be tolerated. He wrote:
<blockquote>
The South African government must deal decisively with these criminals. Anybody who stands firm against illegal foreigners and criminals, will be supported and protected by all of us. Thank you Minister Ntshavheni for the decisive stance. We must stop tiptoeing around illegalities. Smoke them out!
</blockquote>
On the other hand, Helen Zille, federal chair of the Democratic Alliance, has called for a more empathetic approach to the issue of trapped illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West.
Commenting on X in response to a post by Newzroom Afrika, Zille said that the situation should be handled with compassion, as it directly impacts people’s lives.
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Gayton McKenzie supports Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's tough stance on illegal miners trapped underground. Ntshavheni called the miners "criminals" and said the government will not rescue them. McKenzie agrees and says there should be lots of smoke to force the miners out. Lindo Mnisi also supports this stance. However, Helen Zille believes a more empathetic approach is needed for the trapped miners. This has caused a big debate in South Africa. Some say criminals should not be helped and should be persecuted, while others believe compassion should be shown.

Gayton McKenzie Backs Ntshavheni’s Tough Stance On Illegal Miners, Says "Let There Be Lots Of Smoke"

Helen Zille, Federal Chair of South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance, has called for empathy in handling the issue of trapped illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West.
Thousands of illegal miners are reportedly trapped in disused mines in Stilfontein, sparking a national debate.
At a post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, stated that the government would not attempt to rescue the trapped miners, instead opting to “smoke them out.” She said:
<blockquote>
We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. We are not sending help to criminals. Criminals are not to be helped. Criminals are to be persecuted [sic].
We didn’t send them there, and they didn’t go down there for the good benefit or for the good intentions for the Republic. So, we can’t help them.
Those who want to help them, they must go and take the food down there. They will come out, we will arrest them.
</blockquote>
The government’s refusal to help the miners has led to widespread debate across South Africa, with varying opinions on the best course of action.
Commenting on X in response to a Newzroom Afrika post, Zille said that the situation should be handled with empathy, as it directly impacts people’s lives. She said:
<blockquote>
Come on. The minister is talking about human beings here. People facing a perilous life-threatening calamity must be rescued.
Arrest and prosecute them for breaking the law. But don’t leave them to perish in horrific circumstances. What happened to Ubuntu?
</blockquote>
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), have descended on the area and sealed off the routes through which community members supply food and water to the illegal miners underground, enabling their ongoing and indefinite illegal mining activities.
A community member who volunteered to go underground this week reported back that some of the trapped miners have died, while others are critically ill.
The community representative estimated that around 4,500 miners remain underground, too afraid to resurface due to the risk of arrest.
Meanwhile, AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa told Newzroom Afrika that miners, including those employed by formal mining companies, face daily dangers. He said:
<blockquote>
Workers are being killed every day, even in the regulated mines, therefore, there is no law. You can’t blame people who go and seek for livelihood because of this government that is so incompetent.
They called [striking mineworkers at Marikana in August 2012] criminals. I do not know now how they can be able to distinguish between criminals and workers.
Thirty-four mineworkers were killed, fighting for economic emancipation by the very same government.
Today they have the guts to say let’s smoke them out, those criminals. The same government has made this environment very fertile for illegal mining.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Helen Zille wants to help trapped illegal miners in South Africa. The government doesn't want to rescue them, calling them criminals. There is a debate on how to help the miners. Some people think they should be saved, others think they should be arrested. Many miners are trapped underground and some have died. The government is sealing off routes that supply food and water to the miners. The president of a mining union says even legal miners face dangers. People are questioning the government's response to the situation.

"What Happened To Ubuntu?": Helen Zille Calls For Humane Approach To Trapped Illegal Miners

Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, advises beneficiaries of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) not to readily believe Helen Zille’s statements regarding granting them citizenship in the neighbouring country.
Helen Zille, former leader and current Federal Council Chair of the Democratic Alliance (DA), expressed in a recent interview that ZEP holders should be regularized due to their long stay in South Africa and their significant contributions to the economy.
While Zille opposes revoking their permits, she emphasizes the need for proper laws and border control by the South African government.
However, Mabhena warned that political parties in South Africa may exploit the issue of migrants as one of their rallying points in their campaigns. Said Mabhena (<a href="https://cite.org.zw/zim-community-in-sa-urges-caution-over-zilles-citizenship-stance/">via CITE</a>):
<blockquote>
South Africa is in the middle of an election campaign, whose elections will be held on May 29, 2024, and Zille has said holders of the exemption permits should be given citizenship.
Already, there is a court case which wants ZEP holders to be granted Permanent Residence Permits. Now she has taken it up to say give them citizenship.
We discussed an opinion poll by the eNCA and based on that opinion poll, it seems opposition parties are not attracting enough support to the extent that they will dislodge the ANC from power. This poll put support for the DA at 20 per cent.
While the DA is concerned about the borders it has not taken a tougher stance on migrants in SA. This is election season and migration is discussed.
</blockquote>
Mabhena suggested that Zille could be using the burning ZEP issue to attract more funding from employers for her party. He said:
<blockquote>
I am a member of the African Diaspora Forum (ADF) and know a lot of migrants will welcome what Zille is saying but we need to think deeply about the intentions in this election.
This is an election campaign right, is she trying to attract more funding from employers to her party in this election campaign?
She does make a point that migrants have made a contribution to the South African economy but what is her intention in raising this during the election campaign?
I’ve not seen the response from ActionSA which uses migration as its key message and we know ideologically ActionSA is liberal like the DA.
Is Zille trying to draw more funding from employers or is she genuine?
</blockquote>
The ZEP, along with the Lesotho Exemption Permits, was extended until November 2025. This decision affects approximately 178,000 Zimbabweans currently living and working in South Africa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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