Stilfontein, a mining town in North West province, is on the brink of a humanitarian and security crisis as our government refuses aid to approximately 4000 illegal miners trapped in a disused mineshaft. The miners, part of a network known as “zama-zamas,” are reportedly running low on food and water after police closed off entry points as part of “Vala Umgodi” (Close the Hole), an operation aimed at eradicating illegal mining by cutting off underground supply routes.
Since the operation began, some 1,000 miners have emerged, many of them weak and malnourished after days without basic necessities. Police maintain a strong presence around the mine, arresting anyone who surfaces, while officials make it clear they won’t be sending assistance. “We are not sending help to criminals,” said Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, reiterating the government’s firm stance. “Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be prosecuted.”
Residents, who mostly consist of retrenched miners, helped carry out rescue operations, as police refused to enter the shaft to retrieve those underground, the Sowetan reported.
Illegal mining is a longstanding issue in South Africa, where miners target old shafts for remaining gold deposits, often under the employ of syndicates involved in organised crime. The zama-zamas, many of whom are migrants, frequently clash with rival groups in violent confrontations. Their activities have also strained relations with local communities, who report rising rates of robbery and assault linked to the illegal miners.
Joseph Mathunjwa, the president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), told Radio 702 today that while he doesn’t condone illegal activity, the blame lies with mining houses that have not properly sealed their mothballed mines. He also noted these companies have left retrenched workers high and dry with no other options.
The issue has divided South Africans as xenophobic sentiments have predictably risen to the fore over the predicament. For now, thousands of lives are at risk.
