Today's Labour News

newsThis news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.

Zama zama death toll at closed Stilfontein gold mine shaft reaches 78

Details

newsBL Premium reports that the death toll of illegal miners at a closed mining shaft in the North West is inching closer to 100.

Rescuers have retrieved 78 bodies from the closed gold mine in Stilfontein, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe advised on Wednesday, three days after rescue operations resumed following a court order from Judge Ronel Tolmay. “We are sitting at 166 people that have been retrieved alive from underground. The number of deceased has risen. We are sitting at 78. So just for today, it’s 22 people that have been retrieved alive and 18 bodies,” Mathe told reporters. The site was swarming with police, home affairs officials and forensic and pathology teams to secure and manage the situation. Every corner was patrolled, restricting reporters and onlookers from approaching. The mood was laden with a profound sense of sorrow, relief and anger. Hundreds of miners have been trapped in the 2km-deep shaft since August after police launched Operation Vala Umgodi to crack down on illegal mining by shutting down access points to the mine. That decision was reversed on Friday after grassroots lobby group Macua challenged the government to provide humanitarian aid to the miners. Mathe said police had arrested more than 100 people for illegal mining. The rescue effort has polarised public opinion. Some, including mining minister Gwede Mantashe, are advocating for a tough stance on the miners, saying the rescue is tantamount to helping lawbreakers. Macua argues that regardless of their illegal activities, the miners are human beings in desperate need of help to save lives.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster, Nompilo Goba & Noxolo Majavu at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
  • Read too, Body count of dead Stillfontein illegal miners nearing 80, at Sunday World
  • And also, Stilfontein zama zamas death toll: 78 decomposed bodies retrieved since Monday, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)


Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page