South African authorities are conducting a large-scale rescue operation at the disused Buffelsfontein Gold Mine near Stilfontein, following reports of trapped and deceased illegal miners. The situation has sparked debates over who should bear the estimated R12 million ($626,332) cost— the government or the mine’s owners.
Videos of trapped miners and bodies wrapped in makeshift bags circulated on social media, highlighting the dire conditions underground. More than 10 bodies have been recovered, with reports suggesting at least 100 miners have died from starvation and dehydration since a standoff began last year.
The rescue effort involves a private company deploying specialized equipment to retrieve survivors, with police emphasizing that saving lives remains the top priority. The government has also engaged mine owners and experts to ensure safety during the operation.
Illegal mining, driven by poverty and unemployment, has long plagued South Africa. The Stilfontein crisis began when hundreds of miners, fearing arrest, hid underground after police cut off supplies to force them to surface.
The ongoing rescue mission underscores the challenges of illegal mining, entangled with economic hardships and criminal syndicates controlling the practice.