Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has contradicted Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's previous statement that the government would ‘smoke out’ the illegal miners, labelling them as criminals.
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu . Picture Jacques Naude Independent NewspapersPolice Minister Senzo Mchunu has contradicted Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni 's previous statement that the government would ‘smoke out’ illegal miners in Stilfontein.
"We have never ever been unwilling to assist, and I think I need to straighten that record. There is no way we would have repeatedly gone there, spoken about this, and even the design of Operation Vala Umgodi never suggested directly or indirectly that the government is unwilling to assist people to go out ," Mchunu said.
"Let us not assume that just because a statement was made, therefore it is a statement from the collective of the government. Earlier IOL reported that as the rescue operation continued, tensions between the state, activists and community members in the area remained high.
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