South African authorities have recovered 60 bodies from a shuttered gold mine where dozens of miners were working illegally. The recovery operation, which began on Monday, aims to extract all remaining miners, estimated to be hundreds.
The blockade of the mine near Stilfontein was part of a national campaign against illegal miners, known locally as Zama Zamas. Police had cut off access to food, water, and supplies in an effort to force them above ground. However, this tactic drew criticism from human rights groups, who accused the authorities of neglecting the miners’ basic needs.
The mine, over a mile deep, has been plagued by reports of horrible conditions, including dozens of dead bodies wrapped in plastic. Cellphone video released by an advocacy group showed the emaciated frames of living miners and the brutal treatment of those underground.
Human rights organizations have disputed the claim that the miners chose to stay underground to avoid arrest. Instead, they argue that some routes out of the mine had been cut off, trapping them. The South African government has maintained its stance, stating that it will “smoke out” the miners and not provide assistance to those perceived as criminals.
The controversy surrounding Stilfontein highlights deeper issues with wealth inequality in South Africa and the exploitative history of the mining industry. During apartheid, mines were the backbone of the economy, but this imbalance persists today, with a relatively small elite controlling much of the wealth.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/world/africa/south-africa-illegal-mine-deaths.html