News24 reports that a decomposed body was hauled out of Shaft 11 at Stilfontein mine in the North West on Tuesday afternoon.
Community volunteers who lowered food parcels into the shaft earlier on Tuesday, pulled out the body after they received a note from illegal miners (zama zamas) to let them know they would be sending up bodies. The note stated that they would use the same ropes that were used for the food parcels. Paramedics were on the scene. According to community leader Mandla Charles, there are more bodies underground. "The illegal miners underground are complaining about the sight and stench of the dead bodies. They have asked us to send down the rope to fetch more bodies quickly," said Charles. The zama zamas will apparently prioritise badly decomposed bodies followed by those who died more recently. Four zama zamas who resurfaced told authorities that their colleagues were dying in numbers from hunger.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
- Read too, Zama zamas ask for beef underground as 1,000 units of mageu lowered down, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
- En ook, Stilfontein-myn: Ontbinde liggaam na oppervlak gebring, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page