Key Points
- Police cut off food and water during a months-long siege.
- Rescuers recovered 78 bodies and 246 survivors, mostly immigrants.
- Illegal mining costs South Africa $3 billion annually, officials report.
The search for anyone still alive at an illegal gold mine in South Africa, where at least 78 people perished after a months-long police siege, has come to an end. The terrifying experience of recovering bodies from deep underground was recounted by a volunteer.
Police siege traps miners underground for months without food or water
In an attempt to drive the miners out, police had surrounded the mine in Stilfontein, southwest of Johannesburg, since August and cut off food and water supplies. The deaths, according to critics, could have been prevented.
One volunteer told Reuters, “You’ll never know whether someone was left behind if they got lost.”
The mining minister claims that illegal mining costs South Africa over $3 billion a year. Undocumented miners, frequently under the influence of violent gangs, usually work in mines that have been closed by commercial operators, taking what resources are left.
According to one government minister, the Stilfontein miners should be “smoked out” since they are criminals. However, the operation has been denounced by civil society organizations, labor unions, and members of the local community. It was referred to as “the dehumanization and criminalization of poor, desperate miners” by the GIWASU labor organization.
According to community leaders, the deaths were expected. They accomplished what the minister claimed they would do: smoke them out. Thembile Botman, a leader in the neighboring municipality of Khuma, expressed furious rage and exclaimed, “Congratulations.”
78 bodies and 246 survivors recovered in court-ordered rescue
According to Reuters, more than 1,500 people escaped the mine between August and the beginning of the rescue effort on Monday, according to police, who denied obstructing the miners’ escape. Since then, in a court-ordered operation, rescuers have recovered 246 survivors and 78 bodies using a cylindrical metal cage.
Numerous survivors, who were said to be malnourished and confused, were taken into custody and accused of unlawful mining, trespassing, and immigration crimes. The majority are from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
The siege and its conclusion were dubbed “the worst state-sponsored massacre since the end of apartheid” by the GIWASU labor union.
Two Khuma volunteers, including 36-year-old Mzwandile Mkwayi, worked underground for three days to retrieve dead and assist survivors.
He admitted to being afraid Thursday close to the mine shaft. “Those folks were overjoyed to see us. “We are here to help you,” we said to them. Don’t die, please.
Why policemen or contractors did not help with the retrieval efforts was not explained by the police. Volunteers claimed that because they knew the miners and could earn their trust, they were more qualified for the job.
