KEY POINTS
- 4,000 Zama Zama miners stranded underground in Stilfontein mine.
- South African officials block exits, deny assistance to illegal miners.
- Community protests, urging humane treatment and the release of trapped miners.
More than 4,000 illegal miners, known locally as Zama Zamas, remain trapped in an abandoned South African mine as authorities enforce a standoff, blocking exits to cut off supplies.
Conditions have worsened for those inside the Stilfontein mine, with reports of declining health and one deceased miner brought to the surface. Five others, who surfaced weak and malnourished, described months spent underground.
Growing crisis and official response
South Africa’s North West province has seen escalating tensions around abandoned mines, where unlicensed miners—mainly migrants from neighboring countries—extract residual minerals from old shafts.
While these miners argue that they are driven by economic necessity, South African officials have taken a hard stance. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, stated authorities would not aid the miners, saying, “We will not help criminals. We will smoke them out.”
Dubbed “Operation Vala Umgodi” (Close the Hole), the effort seeks to seal entry points to the mine, blocking food supplies. To date, over 1,000 miners have come to the surface voluntarily and have been detained. Officials estimate that hundreds more may still be underground.
Local protests and humanitarian concerns
Relatives and community members have gathered at the mine, demanding the release of trapped miners.
According to CBS News, families have taken to preparing food outside the mine, ready to assist those who make it to the surface. One Zama Zama, in a brief statement to the media, said, “I am just feeding my family. I am not bothering anyone.”
However, not everyone agrees with the official approach. David Van Wyk, a mining analyst, criticized the government’s handling, arguing that all individuals, regardless of legal status, deserve protection.
“The right to life is sacrosanct,” he said, calling for a humane approach to the crisis.
A dangerous underground ordeal
Those who had been trying to rescue the victims also observed a stench, report on the poor state of the affected regions. Some who emerged out brought forth letters from other who had remained in the underground upward protesting they still lacked strength to come out.
Nonetheless, the South African authorities are persistent on the no to assist, while remaining committed to the clamp down on the cross border and illegal mining operations across South Africa.
Stilfontein incident gives an outlook of how many more abandoned mines in South Africa have Zama Zamas perpetuating the risks to their lives to seek whatever remains. For now, however, as the repression grows, these miners are finding themselves in a worsening situation underground.
