Desperate relatives gathered at the site of an abandoned mine shaft in Stilfontein, North West province, South Africa, on Friday, anxiously waiting for the safe return of their loved ones believed to be trapped underground.
The miners, accused of entering the disused mine illegally to search for leftover gold, are in a tense standoff with police, who have cut off their access to food and water in an attempt to force them to surface.
The situation underscores South Africa’s longstanding issue with illegal mining, fueled by small-scale operators and organized criminal networks.
Known locally as zama-zamas, from a Zulu expression meaning “taking a chance,” many of the miners are immigrants from neighboring countries, drawn by the allure of gold.
Since the police crackdown began, over 1,000 miners have surfaced in recent weeks, with at least one fatality reported.
However, hundreds are believed to remain underground, raising concerns about their safety and ability to exit the mine, which descends more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) vertically. Community leaders have reported that many of those still underground are too weak to climb out.
South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who visited the site on Friday, acknowledged the dangers faced by the miners but emphasized the need for a resolution. “We need a much quicker process because it is risky and dangerous for them to remain where they are,” he said. Despite this, the government has been firm in its stance, with Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni reiterating earlier this week that no aid would be sent to the miners, whom she described as criminals. “We will smoke them out,” she declared.
This hardline position has drawn criticism from some community members, who have called for compassion and assistance. Outside the mine, distraught relatives pleaded for action. “I’m here waiting for young people who are underground, who are dying,” said Roselina Nyuzeya, a Zimbabwean national whose husband has been underground since April. Another resident, Matsidiso Ramolla, voiced her frustrations: “We are asking for help from the government to assist us so our children can come out of the mine. All we are asking for is their remains to come out.”
Meanwhile, protests erupted around the site, with some locals holding signs that read “Smoke ANC out,” a pointed rebuke of the ruling African National Congress party’s approach to the crisis.
Efforts to hoist individuals out of the mine have been slow, with a makeshift pulley system set up at the rocky entrance. As tension builds, the fate of those trapped underground remains uncertain, highlighting the human cost of illegal mining in South Africa.
