A rescue mission for unauthorized gold miners trapped in deep underground shafts in South Africa’s North West province began on Monday, ending months of speculation about their circumstances.
Civil rights groups indicate that at least 100 people have died from starvation since October when authorities restricted access to the shafts at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, located about 156 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, as a means to pressure miners to come to the surface by withholding food.
Read: The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
The government initially took a strict stance, declaring it would not aid those involved in illegal mining. Meanwhile, the police did not intervene as local residents near the mine used a makeshift rope-pulley system to hoist individuals up from 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) below ground. Some who surfaced were arrested but subsequently released.
The precise number of people still trapped underground is unclear, with estimates suggesting that at least 1,000 remain isolated from the surface.
“They have gambled with the lives of our brothers,” stated Zinzi Tom, whose brother is still trapped underground and initiated a legal suit to prompt the government to conduct a rescue operation, speaking outside the mine on Monday.
“We have knocked on many doors asking and pleading with the government for help, and the response was that they would smoke them out. They didn’t care whether these people came out alive or not.”
A legal agreement was established last week, ensuring government support for the rescue operations. The Department of Mineral Resources, in conjunction with the Minerals Council, an industry representative body, has partnered to help finance the mission, which is projected to cost approximately R12 million.
On Monday, heavy machinery and at least eight forensic pathology vans were seen entering the mine site.
Read: Stilfontein’s dangerous and desperate illegal mining industry
The department mentioned that dialogues commenced in December with the mine owners, who are legally obligated to finance the rescue effort, yet they claimed a lack of financial resources.
This problem of illegal mining extends beyond Stilfontein; across the country, there are around 6,000 abandoned mines, many of which have been infiltrated by informal miners colloquially known as zama zamas.
The government reports that South Africa and its mining sector lose about R70 billion each year due to illegal gold mining activities.
© 2025 Bloomberg
Stay updated with Moneyweb’s comprehensive finance and business news on WhatsApp here.
