Trapped in Stilfontein: Rains halt rescue of 4,500 miners

Thembile Botman, the leader of the Stilfontein community, told the media on Wednesday that contact was made on Tuesday with the illegal miners deep underground, known as zama zamas in South Africa. Many of them are dehydrated because they have been in the mine corridors for a long time without food and water.

Some of them are sick and unable to move; Botman confirmed that there are bodies underground as well. Stilfontein residents had been assisting the trapped miners for several days by providing them with water and food, but heavy rains have closed off access to the shaft.

Police are waiting for the miners on the surface, having surrounded all possible exits from the mine. Their spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, said the miners can come to the surface at any moment.

He added that since October 18, over a thousand zama zamas have voluntarily surrendered to the police when their water and food supplies ran out. They have been charged with violating the Immigration Act since most of them came from Lesotho and Zimbabwe, as well as with involvement in illegal mining.

Police are chasing illegal miners who have been breaking into unused and closed gold, chrome, and platinum mines for years. The operation is codenamed Vala Umgodi. Since December 2023, over 13,690 people have been arrested in seven provinces.

In South Africa, illegal mineral extraction in closed mines has been increasing for several years, driven by the country's worsening economic conditions, unemployment, and labour migration from neighbouring countries. According to South African police, illegal mining is closely linked to international gangs, and the zama zamas themselves are often armed and not hesitant to shoot at the police.