At least 78 illegal miners have been found dead in a South African gold mine after a lengthy siege, where police blocked the delivery of food and water for months. This crackdown, which unions have condemned as “horrific,” took place in Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, where hundreds of miners, some in severe distress, were trapped up to two kilometers below the surface.
A court-ordered rescue operation began on Monday, and so far, 166 survivors—many malnourished and disoriented—have been rescued. However, the bodies of 78 miners have already been recovered. The police had prevented aid from reaching the miners since August, citing the need to combat illegal mining, known locally as “zama zamas,” or illegal miners.
Athlenda Mathe, the national spokesperson for the South African police, stated that the police’s mandate was to fight criminality, and allowing aid would have encouraged it. However, the operation has sparked criticism from trade unions and political parties, with accusations of gross negligence. The South African Federation of Trade Unions called it “state wilful negligence,” pointing out that many miners were undocumented workers from Mozambique and other Southern African countries, left to die in appalling conditions.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, called for an independent investigation into the incident, claiming the situation had spiraled out of control.
All 166 survivors rescued so far were arrested on charges of illegal mining, trespassing, and illegal immigration, with no one receiving medical attention despite their dire conditions.
Rescue efforts continued on the third day, using a cage to recover miners and bodies. Each trip down and back took up to 45 minutes. The bodies of the miners, some of whom were reportedly eager to escape, were being pulled up in a heart-wrenching process.
Illegal mining costs South Africa hundreds of millions annually in lost revenue, and mining officials have labeled it a criminal activity, often controlled by violent gangs. The police have arrested and deported over 1,600 miners, most of whom were from Mozambique, with only a small number being South African nationals.
Zama zamas typically occupy abandoned mines to extract valuable minerals, though many are under the control of criminal organizations.
