Authorities in South Africa have recovered at least 60 bodies from the shaft of a disused gold mine, located more than two kilometers underground. Fears persist that additional individuals remain trapped following a crackdown aimed at curbing illegal mining.
The operation, which began in August in the town of Stilfontein, approximately 150 kilometers from Johannesburg, involved cutting off food and water supplies to force miners to surface and face arrest.
On Monday, officials brought in a metal cage to begin extracting individuals and bodies from the mine shaft. The process is expected to take several days.
“I don’t know exactly how many people are still down there,” South African Police Minister Bheki Cele told the eNCA news channel late Tuesday. “Our focus is to reach them and help them get out,” he added, noting that it is difficult to estimate when all miners will be removed.
Survivors and Arrests
As of Tuesday, 106 survivors had been extracted and subsequently arrested for illegal mining. On Monday, 26 miners were rescued under similar circumstances.
Illegal mining has plagued South Africa’s precious metals industry for decades, costing the government and the sector hundreds of millions of dollars annually in lost sales, taxes, and royalties. Abandoned mines, deemed commercially unviable by companies, have become hotspots for illicit activities, with unlicensed miners extracting whatever remains.
Government Response and Criticism
The siege of the Stilfontein mine was deemed necessary by the South African government to combat illegal mining. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe described the illegal activities as a “war against the economy.”
However, the government’s efforts have faced criticism from local residents and human rights organizations. Concerns have been raised about the humanitarian impact of cutting off supplies and the safety of those trapped underground.
