In South Africa, dozens of volunteers have ventured into a perilous abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, attempting to rescue what could be thousands of illegal miners trapped underground for a month.
The miners, known locally as zama zama (meaning “take a chance” in Zulu), entered the mine in search of gold and mineral remnants but have since become stuck in deteriorating conditions.
Authorities have imposed strict measures, blocking food and water deliveries to compel the miners to emerge. Some government officials have dismissed calls for aid, labeling the miners as criminals and insisting they must face the law. Fearful of arrest and deportation, many of the miners, including undocumented migrants, have refused to surface.
Reports suggest the miners have survived on vinegar and toothpaste. With their health in serious decline, they may no longer be physically capable of leaving the mine unaided. Volunteers working in groups of 50 have been pulling individuals to safety, a process taking approximately an hour per person.
Community leader Lebogang Maiyane condemned the lack of empathy from authorities, calling the conditions underground a humanitarian crisis. Families of the miners have protested near the site, demanding immediate intervention. Some relatives, like Thandeka Tom, emphasized the desperation that drives people to risk their lives in illegal mining due to rampant unemployment.
Amid the rescue efforts, volunteers retrieved a body from the mine, further highlighting the dire situation. Communication with the miners is being conducted through written notes, while some essential supplies have been sent underground temporarily with official approval.
Authorities have bolstered their presence around the site as part of an operation to combat illegal mining, which costs the government millions annually. Hundreds of miners have already been arrested, and many remain underground in unsafe conditions, fueling calls for a more compassionate response.
The South African Human Rights Commission has announced plans to investigate the government’s handling of the crisis, citing concerns about potential human rights violations. Meanwhile, local leaders and volunteers continue to plead for greater assistance in saving lives as the situation grows increasingly desperate.
