CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African officials are facing significant scrutiny regarding their handling of a crisis involving illegal miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine. Civic organizations have claimed that hundreds of miners have been stuck deep within the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine for several months. Reports indicate that over a hundred individuals may have succumbed to starvation or dehydration during this period.
In November, authorities initiated an operation aimed at clearing out these miners, who had been engaged in unlawful mining activities. They attempted to drive them out by severing their food and water supply from above for an extended duration. While police claim the miners are free to leave, the miners are reportedly fearful of arrest, which has prevented them from emerging.
Groups advocating for the miners firmly contest the assertion that they can exit the mine safely. They argue that the miners are stuck as deep as 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) underground, making it one of the deepest mines in the country. These groups contend that an organized rescue mission should have commenced weeks ago. According to one organization, over 100 individuals are believed to have died, with an additional 500 still trapped underground, many of whom are suffering from illness and malnutrition.
The duration of the miners’ entrapment is unclear, but it is evident they have been in the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine since at least November. Some family members of the miners have reported that their loved ones have been in the mine since around July. Illegal mining is a rampant issue in gold-rich parts of South Africa, especially in areas where previously profitable mines have closed. Under such circumstances, informal miners often break in to look for remaining gold deposits. Numerous groups typically descend into the mines for extended periods, bringing supplies such as food, water, and generators, while also relying on individuals above ground to send down additional resources.
Authorities’ approach has involved cutting off the miners’ supplies and dismantling ropes and pulleys that facilitate access to the mine. A government minister stated the intention was to “smoke them out” while asserting that the miners were being treated as criminals, hence no assistance would be given. This strategy has faced strong backlash from human rights organizations. In December, some groups successfully secured a court ruling mandating that basic supplies such as food, water, and medicine be dispatched back down to the miners. However, they claim that the amount provided is insufficient to meet the needs of everyone trapped there.
A handful of miners have managed to escape in recent months and have been apprehended by authorities. Law enforcement maintains this reflects that miners can find their way to safety. However, a representative from the group Mining Affected Communities United in Action asserts that those who managed to flee undertook a perilous multi-day trek through the mine to reach a different shaft, with many others too weak to attempt such a risky escape.
The police operation at Stilfontein is part of a broader initiative to combat illegal mining operations, known colloquially as “zama zamas” or hustlers, which have created persistent challenges throughout South Africa. The government estimates there are around 6,000 abandoned mines in the country, contributing to an annual loss of nearly $1 billion in revenue due to illegal mining activities.
Presently, community members have launched a rescue operation, focused on retrieving survivors and bodies from the Buffelsfontein mine. An official rescue team began its efforts early this week, utilizing a cage lowered into the mine for recovery operations. So far, authorities report that they have retrieved at least 60 bodies and extracted over 90 survivors.
The process of rescuing the remaining survivors and recovering all bodies could take weeks since the cage can accommodate fewer than ten people at a time. Furthermore, officials have declared that no trained rescue personnel will descend into the mine due to its hazardous conditions. Instead, community volunteers familiar with the mine’s layout have opted to navigate the treacherous area as the cage is sent deep underground.