Stilfontein – Clement Moeletsi, a resident and community member, who was trapped in abandoned shafts at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein before being rescued and subsequently detained, claims that illegal miners were suffering from starvation.
In an affidavit submitted as part of the Mining Affected Communities United In Action (MACUA) appeal to the Constitutional Court, Moeletsi asserts: “It was not an illness that caused their deaths. It was starvation.”
Moeletsi was arrested on December 9, 2024, and released on R500 bail by the Stilfontein Magistrate’s court on December 31, 2024.
In his affidavit, Moeletsi describes the terrifying experiences he faced underground, along with the details of his rescue and arrest.
“I was unable to provide a more detailed account because my legal representatives were denied access to me while I was held at Hartbeespoort Police Station from December 9, 2024, until my release on December 31, 2024,” Moeletsi clarified.
He noted that this lack of access severely limited his ability to communicate and relay important information during that time.
“Now that I have regained my freedom, I can provide a clear and detailed account of the events and conditions I endured, which I believe will significantly aid the Court in comprehending the urgency and seriousness of the situation,” Moeletsi stated.
“I accessed Shaft 10 using a rope system.
“This system, manually operated by artisanal miners, required teamwork and considerable physical effort to lower individuals into the shaft.
“Upon reaching level 6 of Shaft 10, I remained there for about a month before feeling the effects of Operation Vala Umgodi.”
Moeletsi recounted the daily struggles faced underground during this period.
“The atmosphere was stifling and entirely devoid of natural light, with thick, oppressive air,” Moeletsi shared.
“Before Operation Vala Umgodi commenced, we relied on assistance from other artisanal miners and community members above ground to supply food, medications, and other necessities.
“Families would send these items, which were then passed down by miners working on the surface to those trapped below.
“Although this system was informal, it was essential for survival underground. However, in August 2024, all supplies of food and essential items were completely cut off for Shaft 10.”
Moeletsi further stated, “This abrupt stoppage of supplies took us completely by surprise, and we had no warning or explanation regarding why the delivery of food, water, medication, and other basic provisions had ceased.”
By September 2024, he noted, the desperation for food reached alarming levels.
“People resorted to eating cockroaches and mixing toothpaste with salt to create makeshift meals, extreme measures driven by sheer necessity,” Moeletsi recounted.
“The absence of food and safe drinking water left us without any viable means of nourishment.
“From September to October 2024, the lack of even basic sustenance was total, and survival became a daily battle against starvation.
“Personally, I went without food or drinkable water for almost six weeks.
“Prolonged starvation left me physically and mentally exhausted, pushing my body’s limits.
“To survive, I had to drink underground water, which had a strong chemical taste.
“While it kept me alive, it led to severe headaches, abdominal pain, and what I believe were symptoms of stomach ulcers due to the water’s contamination.”
Moeletsi claimed that Operation Vala Umgodi, implemented abruptly by the South African Police Service, eliminated any chance of assistance or rescue.
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In his affidavit, Moeletsi expressed the devastating consequences of this situation.
“Starvation set in rapidly, and I observed those around me weaken every day,” he remarked.
“Their bodies deteriorated, and their conditions worsened swiftly.
“Many fell victim to unrelenting hunger, their emaciated bodies haunting reminders of the horrors we endured.
“From what I saw, it was not illness that claimed lives underground, but starvation.”
Moeletsi remembered that the air was plagued with sickness.
He mentioned that wounds and sores festered, remaining unhealed.
“Coughing echoed through the tunnels as people became too weak to resist infections,” he said.
“Skin cracked and split, leaving them vulnerable to infections they could no longer fend off.
“Some, like myself, drank the contaminated underground water to survive, but it brought its own suffering, causing excruciating stomach aches and severe headaches.
“This is what I witnessed underground: people wasting away, their bodies failing them in slow, agonizing despair.”
In a statement released on Saturday, January 4, 2024, MACUA stated that Moeletsi’s affidavit was part of the documents submitted to reinforce its application to the Constitutional Court to highlight the increasing urgency of the matter.
