News EditorSeveral hundred illegal miners are believed to remain trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa’s North West province, after the government cut off vital supplies in a bid to force them to surface. The miners, many of whom have been underground for months, face deteriorating conditions as their access to food, water, and medical supplies has been halted.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating the actions of the police, who have restricted essential supplies to the miners. The commission raised concerns about the potential loss of life due to the lack of basic provisions. At least one decomposed body has been recovered from the mine, according to police reports.
The incident occurred in a disused shaft known to house “zama zamas” — illegal miners who often travel up to 4 kilometers underground in search of minerals. The number of miners still underground is unclear, with reports ranging from several hundred to possibly as many as 4,000. Police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone stated that three miners who emerged from the shaft suggested up to 4,000 could still be inside, although police officials have not confirmed the number. As of Friday, 1,187 miners had surfaced.
The miners are believed to have been underground for months, with the situation worsening as supplies were cut off. Meshack Mbangula, head of the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), said supplies had been withheld for at least three months, and researchers warned that the miners were at risk of starvation, dehydration, and exposure to toxic dust.
David Van Wyk, a lead researcher at the Benchmarks Foundation, expressed concern that many of the miners could emerge seriously ill. “At this point, they are starving, becoming dehydrated, and breathing toxic dust. They’re going to come out very weak and ill,” he said. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) criticized the government’s approach, calling the decision to cut off supplies “vindictive” and warning that it could lead to a tragedy.
The situation highlights the broader issue of illegal mining in South Africa, where an estimated 100,000 people work in the artisanal mining sector. Many miners are driven to the industry due to high unemployment rates and a lack of alternative opportunities. Critics argue that the government’s failure to properly close and rehabilitate thousands of abandoned mines contributes to the rise of illegal mining.
Authorities have stepped up efforts to crack down on illegal mining, which costs South Africa over a billion dollars annually and fuels violent turf wars linked to the black market trade in gold. The police and defense forces are now involved in efforts to bring the situation to a safe resolution, but police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that locals are attempting a community-led extraction, though they will need to indemnify the police first.
In response to the crisis, South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that no help would be provided to the miners, labeling them as criminals. “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out,” she said. However, critics argue that many of those trapped in the mine are simply desperate individuals seeking to survive in an environment of widespread poverty and unemployment.
Advocates like Mbangula are calling for a transformation of the sector, urging the government to legalize and regulate artisanal mining to create safer working conditions and provide economic opportunities for marginalized communities. “If the sector is legalized and made safe, it can hire thousands of people and contribute to the economy,” he said, warning that as long as poverty and unemployment remain high, illegal mining will continue to thrive
