CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The President of South Africa is under increasing pressure to initiate an investigation into a police operation aimed at cracking down on illegal mining activities. Tragically, this operation led to the deaths of 87 miners who were trapped underground during an extended standoff as law enforcement attempted to force their surrender.
The events at the abandoned gold mine near Stilfontein first began to take shape in August when police halted food supplies to the illegally operating miners. This strategy was reportedly intended to compel them to exit the mine but resulted in tragic consequences, with many succumbing to starvation and dehydration, according to organizations advocating for the miners’ rights.
Following legal action, a rescue operation was finally set in motion on Monday, resulting in the extraction of over 240 miners in small groups via metal cages, some of whom were severely emaciated after spending more than five months underground. All individuals rescued were subsequently arrested, according to police reports.
The initiative titled “Close the Hole” was launched by South African authorities to address the rampant illegal mining that has plagued the nation’s numerous abandoned mines. Officials reported an estimated loss of over $3 billion in gold to illegal operations in the previous year alone. Late in 2023, police encircled various mining sites to disrupt operations and cut off supplies, anticipating that miners would leave voluntarily.
The Buffelsfontein Gold Mine became the focus of this crackdown in August. However, it wasn’t until November that human rights organizations shed light on the dire conditions faced by the miners, who were reportedly stranded up to 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) underground. Activists raised alarms about the urgent need for food, water, and supplies.
When questioned whether authorities intended to send aid to the miners, a Cabinet minister dismissed the idea with laughter. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni asserted that assisting “criminals” was not appropriate and emphasized that such individuals should face legal consequences.
Advocacy groups contend that the use of starvation as a method of control was evident at Buffelsfontein. They allege that not only was food supply cut off, but authorities also dismantled a rope and pulley system that had been utilized to deliver supplies to the miners. Police, however, refuted responsibility for the fatalities, claiming that miners were not trapped but had the opportunity to escape through various shafts.
According to the police, over 1,500 miners managed to exit the mine, but many others remained inside, fearful of arrest. Nevertheless, rights advocates argue that numerous miners were indeed trapped too far from escape routes or too frail to undertake the perilous climb out. Activists are also urging that the lengthy delay in the rescue operation, which only commenced after a court ruling, also falls under the purview of government accountability.
The miners, referred to as “zama zamas,” meaning “hustlers” in Zulu, often operate under criminal syndicates. Typically comprised of undocumented foreign nationals, many of those who emerged from Buffelsfontein hailed from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. Law enforcement reported seizing large quantities of gold, explosives, firearms, and over $2 million in cash from these miners.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party within the governing coalition, has formally called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an inquiry regarding the events at Buffelsfontein. The party seeks to determine whether the police’s methods reflect a desire for vengeance over effective law enforcement in addressing illegal mining. Critics have suggested that the extreme measures taken by authorities may have been influenced by the fact that most of the miners at Buffelsfontein were undocumented immigrants rather than South African citizens. Thus far, President Ramaphosa has remained silent about this tragic incident.
