EFF raises ‘forced labour and human trafficking’ concerns over children found in Stilfontein

The EFF says it is concerned about the recent discovery of children among illegal miners at Stilfontein.

This comes after the North West department of social development confirmed that about 96 undocumented children from Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, were arrested and detained among the illegal miners who resurfaced this week.

“Even more distressing is the confirmation that as many as 100 children are still believed to be trapped underground, held hostage to the horrors of modern slavery,” EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said.

She said the presence of children among the illegal miners pointed to a more sinister issue: cross-border child trafficking and exploitation.

“Reports of children being sexually violated, forced into hazardous labour and subjected to the control of heavily armed criminal syndicates is a catastrophe that cannot be ignored.”

The EFF also criticised the government’s approach to tackling illegal mining, particularly through Operation Vala Umgodi.