After months South Africa Authorities initially cut off supplies to miners working illegally in an abandoned gold mine. Rescuers brought dozens of bodies and emaciated survivors to the surface on Tuesday. Hundreds more are believed to remain underground, many dead and others too weak to emerge on their own. .
At least 60 bodies and 92 survivors have been recovered from one of South Africa's deepest mines since Monday in a red cage-like device that was lowered thousands of feet underground, police said. Police did not confirm how many miners were still inside but said it was likely in the hundreds. Nine more bodies were recovered on Friday as part of a community-led rescue effort, according to a group representing the miners.
The death toll rises to 13 in a mining disaster in South Africa
The mine has been the scene of a tense standoff between police, miners and community members since authorities launched an operation in November to force the miners out by cutting off food and water from the surface for a period. At the time, one minister said the aim was to “eliminate them” and that the government would not send aid because they were “criminals”.
But the tactic has been strongly criticized by civic and community groups, and the South African government is under scrutiny over the way it handled the case at the Bavelsfontein gold mine, where more than 100 miners are believed to have died underground from starvation. Or drought, depending on the group they represent.
Rescue workers help an illegal miner who has been trapped deep in an abandoned gold mine for months, in Stilfontein, South Africa, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Authorities, who removed ropes and pulleys that miners used to get in and cut supplies, say survivors are able to get out but are refusing to do so out of fear of arrest. Civic groups objected and won a lawsuit to force authorities to allow food, water and medicine to be sent to the miners. But they say supplies are not enough and many miners are starving and unable to get out because the mine is too steep.
Residents desperately awaiting news of their family members gathered at the mine on Tuesday near the town of Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, some carrying placards criticizing authorities for their response. One banner said there had been a “sacrifice in Stilfontein” as police led some of the handcuffed survivors into a line.
The community organized its own rescue operation on Friday before official efforts by authorities began on Monday. They say a proper rescue operation should have begun months ago.
said Mzukisi Jam, regional head of the National Civil Society Organization of South Africa, an umbrella group for civil and rights groups.
Authorities have grappled with informal mining for years
Illegal mining is common in gold-rich parts of South Africa, as companies close mines that are no longer profitable, leaving groups of informal miners to enter them illegally in search of remaining deposits.
Large groups of miners often resort to working underground for months to maximize profits, taking with them food, water, generators and other equipment, but they also rely on others in their group on the surface to send more supplies.
Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mentashe He visited the site on Tuesday and said more than 1,500 miners who have resurfaced from the Bavelsfontein mine have been arrested since authorities began a bigger crackdown on illegal mining in late 2023. The vast majority of them, he said, are foreign nationals from neighboring countries.
The police also doubled down on the fact that miners still underground will not come out because they fear arrest.
Activists said the only way out was for the miners to make the dangerous trek to another shaft, which could take days, and then crawl up there, but many are too weak or sick to climb. The mine is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mi) deep and has several shafts, numerous levels, and a maze of tunnels. The group representing the miners said there were several groups in different parts of the mine.
“The last time I spoke to my brother was in July, when he told us he was going to work underground,” said Zinzi Tom, the sister of one of the children. Of miners Which remained underground. “We haven't heard anything from him, but yesterday one of the miners who surfaced said he saw him about two weeks ago. He appears to be very ill and struggling to stay alive.”
Cell phone videos emerge from underground
Mining Affected Communities United in Action, which sued authorities in December to force them to allow supplies to be sent to miners, released two cellphone videos they said were from underground, showing dozens of miners' bodies wrapped in plastic wrap. Cloth bags. Plastic. A spokesman for the group said that at least 100 miners were killed.
The mobile phone videos, allegedly from deep within the mine, were filmed by a man who can be heard saying: “This is hunger. People are dying of hunger,” as he recorded emaciated-looking men sitting on the wet mine floor. He adds: “Please help us. Bring us food or take us out.”
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the rescue operation would continue for 10 days and authorities would then re-evaluate the matter. Police also said that the survivors brought to the surface will be arrested and charged with illegal mining and trespassing after receiving medical attention.
The authorities made their approach clear when South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters in November that the government would not help the miners, whom it considered criminals.
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“We don't send help to criminals,” she said. “We'll smoke them. They'll come out.”
She added: “Criminals should not be helped. Criminals should be persecuted.”
