STILFONTEIN, South Africa — On Wednesday, South African authorities concluded their rescue mission at an abandoned gold mine, announcing that all known survivors had been retrieved and all bodies recovered after an extended ordeal for hundreds of miners trapped within one of the country’s deeper mines, where they were operating illegally.
Police confirmed the grim findings, with at least 78 miners pronounced dead, and 246 survivors successfully rescued. Civic organizations speculated that victims may have succumbed to starvation or dehydration, although official causes of death for the deceased have yet to be released.
The total number of fatalities could be higher, as local community groups indicated that they had previously recovered nine bodies before official rescue operations began. There were also unverified reports of additional bodies and survivors being discovered in sporadic community-led efforts since the previous year.
The sudden conclusion of the rescue operations came unexpectedly after police had earlier indicated the efforts could extend into the following week. Maj.-Gen. Patrick Asaneng, the acting police commissioner for the North West province, stated that a final sweep of the mine would be carried out the next day.
The end of this tragic episode has led to increased scrutiny of the South African government’s prior decision to attempt to force the miners out by cutting off their food and supplies. Civic organizations argue that the government’s delay in orchestrating a rescue left the miners vulnerable, resulting in deaths from starvation and dehydration. While the specific duration of their entrapment remains unclear, some miners had reportedly been underground since August, with others trapped as far back as July.
Those who managed to survive emerged in a severely weakened state, some emaciated and unable to walk unaided, requiring assistance into waiting ambulances. Authorities indicated that all survivors would face arrests and charges related to illegal mining and trespassing.
The second-largest political party involved in the ruling coalition has urged for an independent investigation to address how the situation escalated to such dire straits.
The rescue operation was initiated after a court order mandated that authorities proceed with attempts to reach the miners. A specialized mining rescue team utilized a small cage that descended thousands of meters into the mine to recover miners, but deemed it unsafe to send personnel down directly, instead sending two community volunteers to assist in the extraction process.
These volunteers reported on Wednesday that no further bodies or survivors remained in the areas they searched. However, Mzukisi Jam, a representative from the South African National Civics Organisation, expressed concern over unaccounted bodies at a separate shaft, questioning the authorities on how relatives would be informed of these discoveries.
The Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, which reaches depths of 2.5 kilometers and features various shafts and extensive tunnels, had previously seen a standoff in November when police attempted to displace the miners by cutting off their supplies. Although a court later mandated the reintroduction of provisions, community advocates argued that officials hadn’t done enough to ensure the miners received critical nourishment and hydration.
Authorities claimed miners could escape through a different shaft, yet many chose to remain due to fears of arrest. Activists highlighted that the perilous journey out would likely be unmanageable for many who were already significantly weakened after long periods underground with insufficient food and water.
Police maintained they were exercising their duty to address what they termed “criminality,” stating that significant quantities of gold, explosives, firearms, and cash were seized from the miners. Most of those involved were identified as foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, living in South Africa unlawfully.
Over the weekend, one civic group released disturbing video footage purportedly depicting the harsh conditions miners faced underground. The video, allegedly taken on a cellphone smuggled out by a miner, showed what appeared to be numerous lifeless bodies arranged in a dimly lit area, with the individual filming pleading for immediate aid from authorities.
The government has faced strong criticism for its prior approach, which involved cutting off food and supplies as a strategy to forcibly remove the miners, a tactic described as “smoking them out” by a Cabinet minister, who labeled the miners as criminals. Critics, including human rights groups, condemned this strategy. South Africa’s second-largest labor federation branded it as a stark instance of government negligence.
While there is considerable anger within the local community, the tragedy has not catalyzed a widespread reaction on a national level, even as illegal mining remains a recurrent issue in the country. This practice frequently occurs at defunct mines that had been closed due to lack of profitability, leaving informal miners to search for remaining resources. South Africa is believed to possess around 6,000 abandoned mines, with over 1,500 arrests for illegal mining made in the Stilfontein region since August.
The government’s approach to these miners, often referred to as “zama zamas”—a term roughly translating to “hustlers” in Zulu—depicts them as part of criminal networks that reportedly rob the nation of an estimated $1 billion in gold each year.
