STILFONTEIN, South Africa — The toll of a prolonged standoff between authorities and miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine has escalated, with the police announcing that at least 87 individuals have died. The situation has led to growing backlash as critics have called for investigations into the authorities’ decisions to withhold assistance from the miners, who were working illegally, instead opting to “smoke them out” by cutting off their food and supplies.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe reported that 78 bodies were located during a court-ordered rescue operation, which has also successfully brought 246 survivors from the depths of the mine since its initiation on Monday. Additionally, nine other bodies were recovered prior to the rescue efforts, although details remain limited.
Community groups had previously taken matters into their own hands when officials stated they would not support the hundreds of miners, labeling them as “criminals.” It is suspected that many of the miners succumbed to starvation and dehydration, but no official causes of death have been announced.
Authorities in South Africa have faced severe criticism for their methods in handling the miners in the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, particularly for cutting off essential supplies last year. This approach was referred to by a high-ranking Cabinet minister, who suggested that it would force miners into surrendering. Such tactics drew condemnation from one of the country’s largest trade unions.
Furthermore, police and mine operators are accused of dismantling equipment such as ropes and a pulley system that miners depended on to navigate in and out of the mine and to receive necessary provisions from the surface.
A court deemed last year that authorities must allow food and water to reach the miners, while a subsequent ruling last week mandated that a rescue operation be launched. Many community members had raised alarms weeks ago when they began uncovering decomposing bodies from the mine, some with messages attached, begging for food.
Local community leader Johannes Qankase expressed frustration, saying, “If the police had acted sooner, we would not be in this dire situation, with bodies piling up. This is unacceptable for a constitutional democracy like ours, and someone needs to be held accountable for this tragedy.”
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second largest political party, which is also part of the government coalition, is calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to commission an independent investigation to understand how the situation deteriorated so severely.
