For months, hundreds of illegal miners were trapped underground in an abandoned South African gold mine, enduring starvation, disease, and death. “There is nothing worse than seeing someone die and being powerless to help,” said a miner, speaking anonymously out of fear for his safety.
The miners, many from impoverished communities across southern Africa, were caught in a police crackdown aimed at disrupting the illegal mining trade, which costs South Africa over $3 billion annually. Conditions underground were harrowing. With supplies cut off, the men survived on scraps like rough salt, their emaciated bodies evidence of extreme hunger.
No Escape” from Subterranean Hell
“They stopped sending food, and everything went bad,” the miner recalled. By September, people were dying daily from starvation and illness. Bodies were wrapped in cloth and left in rows. “The smell was unbearable,” he added.
When police launched a rescue operation under court orders last week, at least 87 bodies were retrieved. Survivors emerged weak and battered, sharing grim stories of survival.
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The miner, a 40-year-old father of six, exited the mine in December after six months underground. Climbing out through a hazardous shaft, he injured his hands and passed corpses of others who had attempted the same escape.
Driven by Poverty and Desperation
Illegal mining thrives near South Africa’s 6,100 abandoned mines, offering one of the few income opportunities for the unemployed. Miners can earn up to $5,300 for a month’s work, a significant sum in a country grappling with extreme inequality and a 32.6% unemployment rate.
Many miners come from neighboring countries like Zimbabwe and Lesotho, with children sometimes forced into the trade. Thirteen children surfaced from the Stilfontein mine last year.
Community members in nearby townships blame poverty. “My sons went underground because we had no food,” said Mmastona Mbizana, whose 22-year-old son was arrested during the police raid.
Calls for Accountability
Activists have criticized the government for the delayed intervention. “The deaths could have been avoided if authorities acted earlier,” one advocate said.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu defended the crackdown, describing illegal mining as a criminal enterprise linked to violent crime and infrastructure destruction. “Illegal mining robs South Africa of billions and threatens communities,” Mchunu said.
Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe urged investigations into the illicit trade’s beneficiaries. “Those profiting from illegal mining must be held accountable,” he said during a visit to Stilfontein.
For the miners, however, the battle is personal. “I didn’t want to die underground,” the anonymous miner said. “But for some of us, there’s no other choice.”
