KEY POINTS
- Stilfontein operation rescues 82 miners but uncovers 36 bodies.
- Illegal mining costs South Africa billions, sparking government action.
- Families and activists demand accountability for harsh rescue tactics.
Rescue operations in Stilfontein have led to the recovery of 36 bodies and the arrest of 82 survivors pulled from an illegal gold mine, South African police confirmed on Tuesday.
The dramatic operation is part of a government crackdown on illegal mining, an issue described as a “war on the economy” by Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe.
The operation began after a months-long siege of the mine, where police cut off food and water supplies to force miners to surface. Hundreds of others are believed to remain trapped underground, with rescue efforts ongoing.
Illegal mining crackdown exposes harsh realities
Illegal mining, a widespread issue in South Africa, often takes place in abandoned mines deemed unprofitable by companies.
Many immigrants from neighboring countries perform this extremely dangerous job in search of the remaining valuable metals production.
The rescue efforts have painted shocking pictures, with many survivors and corpses evacuated from water depths of even more than two kilometers.
The government has supported its actions, claiming that anyone found engaging in illicit mining was endangering the nation’s economy, which loses billions annually.
Rescued miners face legal charges
The 82 miners rescued so far face charges of illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations, with two individuals also charged with possessing gold.
According to Reuters, police are processing those arrested while rescue teams continue their efforts to recover others from the mine.
Despite the government’s justification for the crackdown, the operation, known as “Vala Umgodi” or “Close the Hole,” has drawn criticism from human rights organizations.
Moreover, activists argue that withholding supplies endangered lives unnecessarily and called for greater accountability.
Families and communities bear the burden
Residents have been deeply affected by the events. Matumelo, a 26-year-old woman whose husband entered the mine in June, shared her anguish: “My husband, is he alive or dead?” She last heard from him in August, just before giving birth to their child.
Protests erupted outside a police briefing on the incident, with placards reading, “STOP THE SACRIFICE. #FREETHEMINERS.” Critics of the government’s approach argue that more humane measures could have been implemented.
