Illegal miners, known as “zama zamas,” trapped in the dangerous and abandoned Shaft 11 at Stilfontein have sent out desperate pleas for essential supplies to prevent more deaths. Their requests, sent in letters to community leaders and volunteers, include tobacco, sorghum beer, and disinfectants for “spiritual cleansing.”
The miners, who are communicating from underground through letters written in Sesotho and isiXhosa, have made it clear that they believe these items are crucial for their survival.
“We are alive, although it is difficult. Our parents, we are asking for your help,” one letter read. “We have noticed that deaths are continuing in the shaft. We have been relying on prayers to prevent more deaths. We are asking for BB pipe tobacco, Tlokwe sorghum beer, and Madubula disinfectant to stop the deaths from increasing.”
Tragic Situation in Shaft 11
The miners’ plea comes as the situation underground grows increasingly dire. This week alone, eight bodies were recovered from Shaft 11 by local volunteers. These volunteers, using ropes and other makeshift equipment, have pulled the bodies to the surface. The remains are then collected by a forensic pathology services vehicle.
The most recent recovery was that of a decomposed body discovered last week. The body was identified as one of the illegal miners, who had likely died days earlier. The high number of deaths has raised serious concerns about the safety and living conditions of the illegal miners in the shaft.
Desperate Calls for Help
The miners’ calls for spiritual supplies highlight a unique cultural practice. They believe that the tobacco, beer, and disinfectant are needed to perform a “spiritual cleansing” to protect themselves from death and misfortune underground.
In a previous letter, the miners acknowledged the community’s ongoing efforts to send food and supplies into the shaft, including mageu (a high-energy maize drink), rice, and instant porridge. However, they stressed that the supplies alone were not enough to ensure their safety.
“The prayers are not enough; we need these items to conduct spiritual cleansing,” the miners wrote in their latest letter.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
While food supplies continue to be sent down, the recovery process remains dangerous and difficult. On Friday, two frail miners, both from Mozambique, were pulled from the shaft. They were rushed to a nearby hospital and placed under police guard. Six other miners were arrested after emerging from Shaft 10, another abandoned mine in the area.
The volunteers have faced numerous challenges, including the presence of armed gangs underground. Some of the illegal miners reported that armed Basotho men were controlling the food supplies, hoarding it for themselves and selling it for gold. According to one group of miners, about 36 armed men were keeping over 800 illegal miners under their watch. They allegedly forced groups of miners to share just one kilogram of food.
Armed Gangs Control the Food Supply
“The Basotho men are selling the food aid for gold. They control the food that is brought into the shaft,” said one of the arrested miners. “We are forced to share just a little bit, sometimes only a litre of mageu among six or more men.”
Johannes Qankase, a community leader assisting in the rescue efforts, was unaware of the armed Basotho gangs. He said that the situation underground was beyond their control and urged police to intervene.
“We cannot control what happens underground,” Qankase said. “We are doing our best to continue sending food and retrieving the miners, but the safety issues are beyond our reach. The police need to handle this.”
Rescue Efforts Continue
Despite the alarming conditions, community leaders and volunteers have promised to continue their rescue operations. However, the efforts have been temporarily halted due to the dangerous environment. The retrieval process is expected to resume on Monday.
“The situation is getting worse, but we will not stop trying,” Qankase added. “We are committed to helping these miners as long as we can.”
Authorities in the area, including the local police, have not yet made any significant arrests related to the gangs controlling the mines, but the issue is under investigation.