In a devastating and ongoing operation at Stilfontein’s illegal gold mines, police have managed to rescue 2,000 miners trapped deep underground. However, the discovery of 78 dead bodies has shocked the world, as questions arise about the conditions the miners endured and the response of the South African government.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), confirmed the grim details during a press briefing earlier this week. “We’ve been able to extract 246 individuals from the Buffelsfontein shaft since Monday, and 78 of them were found dead,” Mathe reported. “In total, 1,905 miners have been pulled out from the site since the operation began in August.”
The scale of the tragedy is staggering, with the vast majority of the miners being foreign nationals. “The miners we rescued came from various countries, with the largest group being from Mozambique (1,125), followed by Zimbabweans (465), and Lesotho nationals (200). A few were from Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Mathe explained. “Only 26 South Africans were among the miners who were rescued.”
The harrowing conditions at the Stilfontein mine have stirred outrage across South Africa and the broader Southern African region. Activists and trade unions have accused the government of neglect, arguing that the crackdown on illegal mining may have exacerbated the suffering of the miners.
“The police force effectively trapped these miners underground for months, cutting off their food and water supplies, while many were starving and dying in the tunnels,” said Mametlwe Sebei, a prominent trade union leader who has been advocating for the miners’ rights. “This is one of the most horrific and preventable tragedies in recent memory.”
The mining operation at Stilfontein is part of a wider problem in South Africa, where illegal miners—commonly known as “zama zamas”—have become a significant presence in the gold mining sector. The term “zama zama” comes from an isiZulu expression meaning “taking a chance” or “trying one’s luck,” as these miners risk their lives to extract whatever gold they can from abandoned mines. Most zama zamas are undocumented and come from neighboring countries, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and others.
The mining operations have often been linked to violent criminal gangs, and the miners face dangerous working conditions in tunnels that are not properly secured. However, despite the risks, many miners have no choice but to engage in illegal mining as they struggle to survive.
“These miners are desperate,” said Jessica Lawrence, a civil rights advocate with Lawyers for Human Rights. “They’re often working in the most dangerous conditions, with no regard for their safety or well-being. They take this risk because it’s often the only option available to them.”
South Africa’s mineral-rich lands have long been a draw for both legal and illegal mining, with the latter accounting for a significant portion of the nation’s gold output. However, the toll on both the environment and the miners themselves has been severe, with countless lives lost in the pursuit of gold.
The government, led by the African National Congress (ANC), has taken a hard line against illegal mining, and South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, defended the ongoing crackdown. “Illegal mining is a crime, and it’s costing the country billions. Last year alone, it caused a loss of $3 billion,” Mantashe stated in a press interview at the Stilfontein site. “We can’t allow criminality to flourish under the guise of poverty and desperation.”
However, this stance has not been without controversy. While the government insists on the need to curb illegal mining activities, trade unions and rights groups argue that the crackdown has been unnecessarily harsh and fatal for the miners.
Mzukisi Jam, a civil society activist, has been on the ground throughout the rescue operation and described the situation as dire. “It’s heartbreaking to watch,” Jam said. “The survivors are in shock, and their suffering is unimaginable. But what is even more disturbing is that no one seemed to care about their well-being until the operation started.”
Rescue operations have been ongoing for several days, and authorities have confirmed that a total of 1,576 miners managed to escape the mine through their own means before the official rescue efforts began. However, these miners were quickly arrested, and 121 of them were deported. “We have been diligent in ensuring that these miners face the consequences of their actions,” said SAPS spokesperson Mathe. “We cannot allow such criminal behavior to continue.”
The operation has now entered its third day, with emergency teams using specialized equipment to lower cages into the mine to retrieve survivors and bodies. Each round trip takes approximately 45 minutes, with the team bringing out bodies or the emaciated miners as they fight to stay alive.
According to Mannas Fourie, CEO of a private rescue firm involved in the operation, “Each person pulled out is a reminder of just how dangerous and deadly this environment is. It’s incredibly distressing to witness the toll this operation is taking on the individuals involved.”
Despite the grim findings, the government has refused to back down. “We are committed to enforcing the law,” Mantashe continued. “These illegal activities not only harm the economy but also put the lives of miners at extreme risk. It’s essential that we stop these operations.”
Meanwhile, the community and trade unions have called for an independent inquiry into the handling of the Stilfontein mine tragedy. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has also weighed in, criticizing the government’s actions as “out of control” and demanding accountability for what they term a preventable disaster.
