A three-day police siege at an illegal mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, has ended with the rescue of 246 survivors and the discovery of 78 corpses. The operation aimed to forcibly remove miners from the site to make arrests.
The labour union has condemned the incident, calling it a “state-sponsored massacre”. Police had cut off food and water supplies to the mine, sparking widespread anger among local residents.
The mine was found to be operating illegally, with thousands of workers employed in hazardous conditions. The incident highlights concerns over worker safety and enforcement of mining regulations in South Africa.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-police-lower-cage-into-mine-check-if-anyone-left-after-78-died-2025-01-16