Zim nationals trapped in SA gold mine
The Zimbabwean Embassy in Johannesburg is working with the South African government to identify the identities of Zimbabwean nationals that were trapped in the abandoned Stilfontein gold mine in the North West Province.
More than 80 miners have been confirmed dead at the abandoned Stilfontein gold mine in the Northwest Province of South Africa.
In a statement, Zimbabwe’s Envoy to South Africa, Ambassador David Hamadziripi said the embassy is seeking to establish if there are any Zimbabweans among the 87 deceased individuals retrieved at the mine shaft, adding that there are plans to use DNA testing of relatives.
Ambassador Hamadziripi also disclosed that there are 465 alleged undocumented Zimbabwean nationals who are undergoing a screening process in the South African Police Service custody.
The situation at disused mine shafts in Stilfontein has been developing since August last year, when small groups of illegal miners emerged from the shafts.
In November 2024; the Pretoria High Court ordered police to end a standoff with illegal miners and allow emergency workers to gain access to a shaft where hundreds were believed to be holed up.
“I have hope that our people are going to come out. Our brothers, our friends and us in the first group. We know a lot of guys here. They are our brothers. They are our friends. They have kids. So, we are trying the best we can to help them out, because it will hurt when I see my friend’s kid tomorrow running around the streets, and daddy is not around,” said Tieho Moabi, one of the miners.
“I don’t want to be a criminal. I don’t want to steal some people’s property or to rob people. I took a decision to take my own risk, to risk my life and go to the abandoned shafts to get some gold to earn a living. Our government doesn’t provide us with jobs. So we saw a job opportunity for us,” said Moeketsi Khati, an illegal miner.
“Some of them are as young as 14, at least according to my estimation. They are just skin and bones. Very, very sad to look at them. So, we brought some soft porridge and we brought some water. They couldn’t wait because they have not been drinking water for a long time now. And they are hungry. They are weak,” said Bishop Victor Phalana, border member of Benchmarks Foundation.
Illegal mining has flourished in South Africa in recent decades as many industrial mines have been exhausted.
Reports estimate there are about 30,000 illegal miners widely known as “zama zama” producing 10 percent of South Africa’s gold output in 6,000 abandoned mineshafts, often controlled by criminal syndicates. ZBC
