Stilfontein mine deaths
| Location | Stilfontein, North West Province, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Deaths | 78-100[1][2][3] reported |
Beginning in August 2024, a siege, conducted by South African authorities, occurred at a closed gold mine in Stilfontein. The siege has resulted in the deaths of at least 78 illegal miners.
Siege
[edit]The Stilfontein gold mine in North West Province was once a major gold producer but ceased operations in 2013.[4][5] Since its closure, it has been a site for illicit mining activity, with artisanal miners (known locally as zama zamas attempting to extract remaining gold deposits in the abandoned shafts.[6] South African authorities began a siege of the mine in August 2024, cutting off food, water and medicine supplies, in an attempt to force illegal miners to come to the surface and be arrested.[1] The blocking of key shaft exits trapped miners underground, with reports suggesting that many were unable to resurface, fearing arrest or retribution from armed underground gangs who control mining operations.[7]
Deaths and rescue operation
[edit]On 13 January 2025, months after the siege began, South African authorities, led by the Department of Mineral Resources,[8] began a court-ordered[3] rescue operation in the mine. A metal cage and lift system was used to recover survivors and deceased miners from a shaft more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) underground.[1] The South African National Civics Organisation sent volunteers down the shaft to accompany the rescue teams, and to advocate for the rights of the illegal miners.[3]
Miners, both alive and deceased, were recovered from the mine. Many of the miners emerging alive were emaciated, with tattered clothes and no footwear.[3] More than 1000 miners have surfaced since the siege began.[8]
Seventy-eight bodies were retrieved,[1] though there were also reports of 87 dead[2] or that more than 100 miners may have died.[3][9] On 16 January, it was reported that no-one else remained in the mine, and all survivors had been rescued.[10]
Police faced anger and a possible investigation for using tactics such as cutting off the miners' food supplies.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "South Africa accused of 'horrific' crackdown as 78 corpses pulled from illegal mine". Reuters. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ a b c "Standoff in South Africa ends with 87 miners dead and anger over police's 'smoke them out' tactics". CTV News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "South Africa's Stilfontein mine: Relatives wait for news as body bags hauled from shaft". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "South Africa's police minister promises to clamp down on illegal mining". Al Jazeera. 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Trapped below: South Africa's illegal mining crisis". The Africa Report. 2 December 2024.
- ^ "South Africa police vow to arrest illegal miners at Stilfontein". BBC. 17 November 2024.
- ^ Bartlett, Kate (23 November 2024). "South Africa's illegal gold miners are locked in an underground standoff with police". NPR.
- ^ a b "South Africa's Stilfontein mine: Dead bodies seen in videos from disused shaft". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "Operation under way to rescue trapped miners from South African gold mine". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ^ "No more miners trapped at Stilfontein mine in South Africa, rescue volunteers say". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.