STILFONTEIN, South Africa — The tragic toll from a protracted standoff between law enforcement and illegal miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine has escalated, with authorities confirming a grim figure of at least 87 fatalities. This announcement was made on Thursday as the police concluded a rescue operation that had successfully extracted over 240 survivors from deep within the mine.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe revealed that during the official rescue effort, which commenced on Monday, 78 bodies were recovered, adding to the nine that had already been found. However, no details were provided regarding the recovery of these earlier bodies.
In response to the lack of government assistance last year, community groups have reportedly initiated their own rescue efforts for the hundreds of miners, who were deemed “criminals” by authorities.
While the presumed causes of death include starvation and dehydration, no official statements have been released detailing the exact reasons behind the fatalities.
South African officials have faced widespread criticism for their handling of the situation. In a controversial strategy meant to drive the miners out, authorities cut off all food and essential supplies to them last year, a tactic described as “horrific” by one of the nation’s largest labor unions.
Community members and civic organizations have leveled accusations at law enforcement and the mine owners, claiming they dismantled equipment like ropes and pulleys that miners relied on to enter the mine and receive supplies from the surface.
A court ruling compelled authorities last year to permit the delivery of food and water to the miners. A subsequent ruling last week mandated the initiation of a formal rescue operation.
Warnings of the impending disaster underground surfaced weeks prior, when local residents occasionally retrieved decomposing bodies from the mine, some adorned with notes requesting provisions.
Local community leader Johannes Qankase expressed dismay at the situation, stating, “If the police had acted earlier, we would not be in this predicament, with bodies piling up. It is a disgrace for a constitutional democracy like ours. Someone must answer for these events.” He shared his sorrow over the sight of numerous pathology vans arriving to collect deceased individuals.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party and part of the ruling coalition, has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to such disastrous conditions underground.
According to party representatives, “The severity of the crisis at Buffelsfontein is turning out to be as dire as initially feared.” Authorities indicate that nearly 2,000 miners were operating clandestinely within the mine, situated near Stilfontein, west of Johannesburg, since August of the previous year. Many miners have since resurfaced voluntarily, and police confirmed that all survivors have been taken into custody, some appearing severely malnourished and struggling to walk.
It was reported that at least 13 children had also exited the mine prior to the initiation of the official rescue operation, which had been delayed for some time.
On Wednesday, police announced the conclusion of the rescue operation after a brief three-day effort, stating that they believe no more individuals remain trapped underground. A camera will be deployed into the depths of the mine to ensure this assessment is accurate.
The Buffelsfontein mine, one of South Africa’s deepest, features a sprawling network of tunnels and shafts. Miners worked at depths reaching 2.5 kilometers (approximately 1.5 miles) in various groups.
Authorities assert that the miners were capable of exiting the mine via multiple shafts but chose to remain inside due to fear of arrest. This claim has been contested by representatives for the miners, who argue that numerous individuals were confined underground under perilous conditions, surrounded by the remains of deceased peers.
The initial law enforcement operation last year aimed to compel miners to evacuate and submit themselves for arrest was part of a broader, nationwide crackdown on illicit mining known as Vala Umgodi, or Close the Hole. Illegal mining has emerged as a prevailing issue in South Africa, as various groups infiltrate abandoned sites to extract leftover resources.
These miners, known colloquially as “zama zamas,” a term meaning “hustlers” or “chancers” in Zulu, are often armed and linked to organized crime syndicates. The government reports that illegal mining results in losses exceeding $1 billion annually in gold deposits. Many of these miners are undocumented migrants, primarily from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, who are living in South Africa unlawfully.
According to police, significant quantities of gold, explosives, firearms, and over $2 million in cash were confiscated from the miners, justifying their stringent enforcement approach.
“By supplying these illegal miners with food, water, and essentials, the police would essentially be facilitating and endorsing criminal activity,” Mathe stated. Despite the backlash against law enforcement’s tactics, public outrage over this disaster has been subdued in South Africa, where zama zamas are often viewed as a persistent menace amidst broader issues of violent crime in the country.
