A critical rescue operation is underway at a disused gold mine in Stilfontein South Africa where illegal miners have been trapped underground for months following police crackdowns on illicit mining activities last year.
Recently released videos, which the BBC has not independently verified, reveal the severe conditions inside the mine. One video shows corpses in makeshift body bags, while another depicts emaciated surviving miners. A court-ordered rescue operation began Monday after significant delays.
The situation escalated last year when authorities took a hardline approach, blocking food and water supplies to the mine located 145km southwest of Johannesburg. One government minister stated in November: “We are going to smoke them out.”
Reports suggest over 100 of these illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas,” have died underground since the crackdown began, though authorities have not officially confirmed this figure. While hundreds are believed to remain trapped, more than 1,000 have emerged over recent months.
Footage released by the General Industries Workers of South Africa (Giwusa) shows dozens of shirtless men sitting on a dirty floor, their faces blurred. In the video, a voice describes their desperate need for help and shows bodies of deceased miners. Another clip features a man reporting 96 deaths and pleading for food and supplies. The union states the footage was captured on Saturday.
During a Monday briefing near the rescue site, Giwusa leadership and community representatives condemned the situation. Union president Mametlwe Sebei termed it the “Stilfontein massacre,” criticizing what he called the authorities’ “treacherous policy.”
The ongoing rescue operation, led by the department of mineral resources, involves lowering a cage down the approximately 2km shaft hourly. The cage can accommodate six to seven people depending on weight. According to Giwusa, Monday’s efforts resulted in 26 miners being rescued alive and nine bodies retrieved.
Makhosonke Buthelezi, spokesperson for the department of mineral resources, could not confirm whether priority would be given to retrieving the deceased or those requiring medical attention. The department and police ministry plan to provide an operational update in a Tuesday briefing.
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