For weeks, South African police have maintained a tense presence outside an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, aiming to end illegal mining operations running deep underground. Since the standoff began, over 1,000 miners have surfaced and faced arrest, one decomposing body has been found, and worried community members have petitioned the court to ensure food and water supplies for those still underground.
While police estimate hundreds remain underground, community representatives argue that thousands could still be in the depths of the mine, either fearful of arrest or too weak to emerge. Busi Thabane, a South African mining expert, notes that this standoff is symptomatic of long-standing issues surrounding illegal mining in the region. Known as “zama-zamas” or “hustlers,” these miners, largely led by criminal syndicates, extract gold and precious metals, risking their lives for minimal returns while syndicate leaders profit heavily.
In an operation dubbed “Close the Hole” or “Vala Umgodi” in Zulu, South African police, alongside military forces, have intensified efforts to seal off supplies and flush out the illegal miners. Since its inception, the crackdown has led to 14,000 arrests and seizures totaling over $1 million in uncut diamonds. The illegal mining scene remains fraught with turf battles and armed confrontations among rival factions, making it perilous for officers to intervene directly.
Community members, led by the Society for the Protection of Our Constitution, took the matter to court, resulting in a High Court order mandating the resumption of food and water supply to those underground. Despite labeling the mine as a “crime scene,” President Cyril Ramaphosa urged authorities to safely retrieve the miners. Rescuers continue to extract miners, many of whom have spent months underground in deteriorating health, with police preparing facilities to ensure their eventual arrest upon recovery.
Source: swifteradio.com
