• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Africa

Lesotho government embarrassed by nationals involved in illegal mining activities in SA

21 June 2021, 8:15 PM  |
Patrick Dintwa Patrick Dintwa |  @SABCNews
The President says returns from mining must also empower mineworkers and mining communities and lead to more employment-friendly activities.

The President says returns from mining must also empower mineworkers and mining communities and lead to more employment-friendly activities.

Image: Reuters

The President says returns from mining must also empower mineworkers and mining communities and lead to more employment-friendly activities.

The Consul General of Lesotho says they are embarrassed about their countrymen’s involvement in illegal mining activities in South Africa. Selimo Thabane was talking to North West Premier Job Mokgoro ahead of the identification of 10 decomposed bodies at the government mortuary in Klerksdorp.

Twenty bodies wrapped in grain bags were discovered at an abandoned mine shaft in Orkney last week. Most of the deceased are believed to be Lesotho nationals.

The bodies were discovered after a video of a man asking for help from underground surfaced: 

 

Lesotho authorities met with the North West Provincial Government at the Matlosana Local Municipal Chambers, in Klerksdorp on Monday.

Both sides expressed concern about the unlawful activities. Premier Job Mokgoro says illegal mining is costing the South African economy around R14 billion per annum.

He says the operations seem to be well organised.

“These operators are connected to the syndicate internationally; in addition to that, they are heavily armed. I think it is a common course they actually carry AK 47s. We were told the other day that underground the extent of organisation is quite sophisticated inter alia they have human resource management.”

Thabane also expressed his government’s disappointment.

“It is quite unfortunate what has transpired, it is so unfortunate. The manner in which these operations are been done it’s a risk on its own. It is also a burden, it’s unfortunate and I honestly don’t know what to say. We will have a meeting at a high level, perhaps we will find a way in how we could try and see, what is it that we could do.”

After the talks, the delegation proceeded to the mortuary at Tshepong Hospital, where some family members identified their loved ones.

Tone Sekare, who hails from Botha-Bothe village in Lesotho, lost three of his younger brothers. However, he says his family is relieved to have positively identified them.

“I feel relieved that they are found after they were missing for a long time. But I appreciate the work that has been done in order for me to go and bury them.”

Thabane, explains how they have identified the deceased.

“I was given a list of 15; in that list, I was able to find 10 Basotho Nationals. You will know that some names would have name tags. Some bodies will just have a name, and phone number, some bodies will just have a village. We were able to get them, I mean with the assistance of Lesotho police, with Chiefs and council member,  we were able to find the bodies.”

Authorities in Lesotho have committed to take care of the repatriation of all the bodies of the deceased.

Share article
Tags: North WestLesothoMiners
Previous Post

Global leaders call for women-centered COVID-19 pandemic recovery

Next Post

Austria advance to last 16 with win over Ukraine in final group game

Related Posts

Pope Francis greets people before his meeting with Roman Catholic bishops at CENCO (National Episcopal Conference of Congo), during his apostolic journey, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo February 3, 2023

Pope wraps up Congo visit, heads to volatile South Sudan

3 February 2023, 12:36 PM
Zimbabwean flag

Helping Zimbabwean permit holders not a political ploy: Ambassador

2 February 2023, 7:13 PM
File: An overview of the Niger delta where signs of oil spills can be seen in the water in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Nigerian communities file damages claim against Shell

2 February 2023, 6:09 PM
A Zimbabwean Permit from Home Affairs.

Zimbabwean embassy in SA to launch bid for the return of Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders

2 February 2023, 10:40 AM
The Central Bank of Lesotho

Lesotho Central Bank raises interest rates by 25 basis points

1 February 2023, 3:05 PM
Priests gather at Ndolo Airport for a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 1, 2023.

Pope Francis to celebrate Mass in Congo

1 February 2023, 10:00 AM
Next Post
Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko with Austria's Christoph Baumgartner during the match.

Austria advance to last 16 with win over Ukraine in final group game

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • King of Bacardi music ‘Vusi Ma R5’ killed in Soshanguve
  • Committee wants to halt planned demolition of North West hospital
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Malema threatens nationwide shutdown over power crisis, demands Ramaphosa resign
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Three SA Tourism board members resign
  • Pirates, Sundowns clash headline weekend PSL fixtures
  • SA citizens will be wasting time listening to SONA: Dawie Roodt
  • Authorities out to bring to book perpetrators in Geluksdal Secondary School murder
  • Julius Malema’s firearm trial postponed

LATEST

A resident walks in a flooded area.
  • South Africa

Families in Matatiele left destitute following devastating storm


A picture of jailbars at a police station
  • South Africa

‘Gordonia Butcher’ gets 18 years for attempted murder of sister


  • Politics

VIDEO | EFF leader addresses the Gauteng Provincial Plenum


Inside of a prison
  • South Africa

Northern Cape man slapped with three life sentences for raping minors


The word 'cancer' highlighted through a magnifying glass
  • Sci-tech

‘Early detection can significantly reduce impact and cost of cancer’


A person holding a gun.
  • South Africa

Hostage drama at Gauteng school leads to a fatality


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Global leaders call for women-centered COVID-19 pandemic recovery
Next Austria advance to last 16 with win over Ukraine in final group game