Bodies Recovered from Illegal Goldmine in South Africa Amid Fears of More Victims
Rescue efforts continue as authorities recover bodies from a goldmine in South Africa, with many still unaccounted for
South Africa, Stilfontein, Goldmine, Illegal Mining, Rescue Operation
Stilfontein: So, there’s been a pretty tragic situation in South Africa. They’ve pulled out 15 bodies from this illegal goldmine, and 44 people have been rescued since Monday. It all started when the police cut off food, water, and medicine to the miners underground last year, trying to force them out.
On Thursday, a letter surfaced claiming there are 109 bodies still down there. A video from an NGO showed over 50 wrapped bodies in a tunnel, which is just heartbreaking. Another clip showed some really thin guys begging for food and help. They think there are between 400 and 800 people still trapped underground at the Buffelsfontein mine, which is about 100 miles from Johannesburg.
The authorities keep saying the miners can come up whenever they want, but many believe they’re just trying to avoid getting arrested. They point out that over 1,500 people have come out of another nearby mine. But activists argue that those two mines aren’t connected underground.
One woman, Zinzi Tom, whose brother is still down there, shared her mixed feelings on local TV. She’s relieved but scared, not knowing what’s going to happen next. She even filed a court case after hearing about the letter claiming so many had died.
Now, the rescue operation is underway, but it could take up to 16 days. Illegal mining has really taken off in South Africa’s north-eastern area lately, especially since many industrial mines have been shut down. There are around 30,000 illegal miners, known as zama zamas, producing a significant chunk of the country’s gold from abandoned shafts, often controlled by dangerous gangs.
Police started a crackdown called Operation Vala Umgodi to tackle this issue. They said that by cutting off supplies, they forced many miners to come up due to starvation and dehydration. They’ve allowed some supplies back down since then, but it’s been a tough situation.
A private rescue company is using a crane to bring people up, but only local volunteers are going down the 1.2-mile shaft. It’s too risky for others because some zama zamas are armed, and there have been reports of people being held against their will.
Once the miners are brought up, they’re either arrested or taken to the hospital to recover before facing detention. It’s a really tough situation for everyone involved.