Volunteers assisting rescue teams at a South African gold mine have announced that no more illegal miners remain trapped underground. Since Monday, over 200 survivors and at least 78 bodies have been brought to the surface following a court order to facilitate rescue operations at the mine, a site marked by one of the mining sector’s most severe tragedies.
Authorities plan to confirm the absence of any remaining miners underground by deploying a rescue cage to the mine’s depths. The disaster follows a November directive to arrest illegal miners, which led to tensions when police enforced the order.
During a visit to the site earlier this week, government officials faced protests from an angry crowd blaming them for the loss of life. Reports indicate that over 1,500 miners came to the surface before the rescue mission began. However, some remained underground due to fear of arrest or coercion by gangs controlling the site.
The mine in Stilfontein, located southwest of Johannesburg, has become a focal point for illegal mining activities. Gangs often occupy abandoned mines, extracting and selling minerals on the black market. Survivors have described harrowing conditions, with many enduring weeks underground without food or water.
Officials stated that those rescued would face charges, including illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations, as most miners are undocumented migrants from neighboring countries. South Africa’s reliance on foreign miners has dwindled due to the industry’s decline, contributing to high unemployment and economic instability in the region.
The Mines Minister defended the government’s stringent stance, calling illegal mining an attack on the economy. As the rescue efforts wind down, the nation faces mounting questions about the future of its struggling mining industry and the lives of those drawn into its perilous underground economy.
