Bloomberg reports that an operation to rescue illegal gold miners (zama zamas) who are stranded in deep underground shafts in North West province got under way on Monday, ending a months-long standoff over their fate.
Civil rights groups say at least 100 people have died from starvation since October when the authorities sealed off shafts at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein to deny the miners access to food in a bid to force them to the surface. The government initially took a tough stance, saying it would not help rescue people participating in illegal activities, and the police stood by while members of a community near the mine operated a makeshift rope-pulley system to retrieve people from 2 kilometers underground. Some of those who resurfaced were arrested but were later released. It is unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at not less than 1,000. A legal settlement was reached last week whereby the government agreed to facilitate the rescue. The Department of Mineral Resources and the Minerals Council SA, an industry body, teamed up to help fund it. The operation is expected to cost about R12 million. Heavy machinery and at least eight forensic pathology vans were seen entering the site of the mine on Monday.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by S'thembile Cele at Moneyweb
- Read too, Twenty-six illegal mineworkers, two bodies retrieved from Stilfontein mine, at SABC News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page