STILFONTEIN, South Africa — On Wednesday, South African authorities declared the completion of a rescue mission at an abandoned gold mine, concluding that all survivors had been saved and all deceased miners retrieved following a tragic incident involving numerous illegal miners trapped underground. This update came unexpectedly, just a day after the police minister indicated that the rescue efforts could extend into the following week. According to police reports, 78 bodies have been recovered from the mine since the operation commenced on Monday, and over 240 individuals had been rescued.
During a press briefing at the gold mining site, officials conveyed that a final inspection of the mine would take place on Thursday to confirm that no additional survivors or bodies remained underground.
Earlier, rescuers and volunteers managed to extract approximately 78 deceased miners and more than 160 survivors from the mine where some had been trapped for an extended period. These miners had been engaged in illegal operations and refused to surrender to authorities, who initially sought to compel them to leave the site. As an alarming situation unfolded, hundreds are believed to still be trapped underground, and the death toll is expected to escalate, raising concerns about the government’s handling of the situation.
Critics have expressed outrage towards the South African government’s efforts to forcefully displace the miners by cutting off their food and supplies, which they argue led to starvation and dehydration for many trapped within the mine’s depths. Activist groups have revealed that the authorities not only restricted access to critical resources but also dismantled the ropes and pulleys utilized by miners to access supplies via a particular shaft.
Civic organizations assert that the government’s lack of immediate rescue efforts left a significant number of miners in peril. Although a rescue operation was ordered by the courts and commenced this past Monday, the process is slow due to safety concerns and the narrow capacity of the rescue cage, which allows only a limited number of miners to be extracted at a time. Authorities contend that some miners may have been able to escape through alternative exits at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, known for its substantial depth. However, activists argue that such an escape would be perilous, especially for those who had grown weak from prolonged confinement without basic resources.
In light of the tragedy, South Africa’s second-largest political party, a coalition member in the government, has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to this grave situation.
The court decision mandating the rescue operation arose following a plea from a miner’s relative. As the operation proceeded, a specialized mining rescue firm employed a cage system to recover those trapped, but decided against sending professionals into the mine due to its hazardous conditions. Instead, local volunteers bravely descended into the mine to assist in bringing miners to safety.
The official rescue commenced after authorities made initial attempts in November to force the miners out by denying them provisions. This tactic, aimed at clamping down on illegal mining, resulted in a standoff between the miners, community members, and law enforcement.
Despite a court ruling allowing supplies to re-enter the mine, public advocacy groups criticized the lack of comprehensive rescue efforts, arguing that conditions had become dire without adequate food and water for miners.
As the multiple shafts and tunnels of the mine extend 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) deep, community representatives have estimated that upwards of 500 miners had been underground when rescue operations began. Exact details about their entrapment duration remain unclear; however, relatives indicate that some miners may have been down there since July.
Authorities have confirmed that as of Wednesday, 78 deceased miners have been recovered, while rescue operations have successfully brought 166 people to safety. A community-led group reported discovering an additional nine bodies prior to the official rescue.
While authorities maintain that many of the miners could exit if they desired, they also noted that over 1,000 individuals had surfaced prior to the launch of the rescue operation. Those who did resurface are now facing charges ranging from illegal mining to trespassing, with law enforcement seizing substantial amounts of gold, explosives, firearms, and over $2 million from the miners.
Highlighting the dire conditions underground, a civic group shared two videos showcasing shocking footage of the situation. The videos, reportedly filmed by a miner using a cellphone, depict what appear to be deceased individuals and show emaciated miners pleading for assistance and pleading for food.
Criticism against the government’s tactics intensified, particularly regarding their strategy of cutting off basic provisions to miners. Such actions, characterized by some as an attempt to “smoke them out,” have led to severe backlash from rights organizations, who have branded it a significant case of state negligence.
While local outrage has been palpable, the incident hasn’t incited widespread public outcry across South Africa, where illegal mining incidents are relatively frequent news. This informal mining practice often arises in abandoned facilities no longer deemed profitable, with some 6,000 abandoned mines existing in the country. Authorities have consistently adopted a stringent stance against these groups, labelling them as often armed and part of organized crime syndicates, many comprised of foreign nationals who have entered South Africa unlawfully.
The South African government estimates that illegal miners may be pilfering over $1 billion worth of gold annually from the nation. In the past year, law enforcement reports indicate that over 1,500 individuals have been apprehended for illegal mining in the Stilfontein area, predominantly from neighboring nations including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
