Rescue Operation Underway for Trapped Miners in South Africa
Hundreds remain underground in abandoned gold mine amid reports of fatalities.
Rescuers in South Africa are working to save hundreds of illegal miners trapped in an abandoned gold mine near Stilfontein, about 140km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg. Reports suggest at least 100 may have already died, with survivors describing dire conditions underground.
Rescue Efforts and Grim Discoveries
A professional mine rescue team deployed a large cage into the mine shaft on Monday, successfully bringing seven people to the surface, according to Mzukisi Jam of the South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO). Community leader Johannes Qankase confirmed that at least four bodies had also been retrieved.
Sabelo Mnguni, spokesperson for the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), said a mobile phone recovered from survivors contained videos showing dozens of bodies wrapped in plastic deep inside the mine. He estimated that "a minimum" of 100 miners had died, likely due to starvation and dehydration after being trapped underground.
"Nine bodies were recovered on Friday in a community-led effort, and another nine were retrieved on Monday in an official rescue operation that also brought 26 survivors to safety," Mnguni said.
South African Police Service spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed that authorities were still verifying the total number of survivors and bodies recovered but remained focused on extracting those still trapped.
Standoff Between Police and Miners
The mine has been the center of a tense standoff between authorities and miners since November, when police attempted to shut down the illegal operation. Many miners reportedly refused to come to the surface, fearing arrest.
However, MACUA claims the men became trapped when police removed the ropes and pulley system they had used to enter and exit the mine. "The shaft is 2km (1.2 miles) deep. It’s impossible for people to climb up," MACUA’s Magnificent Mndebele explained.
A rescue team has since designed a special cage that can be lowered up to 3km (1.8 miles) into the shaft, with the entire operation expected to take 16 days if successful, according to the Sunday Times.
In December, MACUA won a court case ordering authorities to allow food, water, and medicine to be delivered to the trapped miners.
Illegal Mining in South Africa
Illegal mining is widespread in South Africa, particularly in gold-rich regions where closed mines attract informal miners searching for leftover deposits. These miners, often referred to as zama zamas—a Zulu term meaning “hustlers”—work in dangerous conditions, sometimes staying underground for months.
While zama zamas are often linked to criminal syndicates, MACUA argues that many of the trapped miners are former mine workers left jobless when mines shut down. "They return to the mines because they live in poverty," Mnguni said.
Authorities remain uncertain about the total number of miners still underground but believe it could be in the hundreds. Rescuers continue their efforts to bring them to safety while facing mounting concerns over the scale of fatalities inside the mine.