On the morning of December 2, 21 illegal miners emerged from the depths of the Margaret Shaft and Shaft 10 in Stilfontein, offering a stark glimpse into the perilous conditions faced by zama-zamas—South Africa’s illegal miners. Seventeen miners surfaced from the Margaret Shaft, while the remaining four appeared from Shaft 10, most of them in a harrowing state of disrepair. Among those who emerged, 12 were Mozambican nationals and 9 were from Zimbabwe, highlighting the regional nature of the underground labor force. The miners, who were found with little more than tattered trousers, had clearly endured a grueling existence deep within the shafts, with many showing visible signs of injury and exhaustion.
The miners’ harrowing journey to the surface was not without its toll. Police, who were on the scene, immediately conducted thorough searches for any possessions and assessed the miners’ health conditions. What was clear from their testimony was the extreme deprivation they had suffered underground. Previous accounts from the zama-zamas indicate that they had been trapped below ground for days with very little food and water, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing Operation Vala Umgodi, aimed at curbing illegal mining activities. The miners spoke of starvation, with some revealing that the last time they had received water was on Friday morning, days before they were able to resurface.
The illegal miners also recounted the dangers they faced while trying to escape. Many spoke of the harsh conditions imposed by heavily armed Basotho men who reportedly control parts of the underground operations. These men, it is claimed, make it nearly impossible for others to escape, trapping miners in dangerous, exploitative conditions. Some of those who emerged on Monday were barefoot, their legs and backs marked with visible injuries, and their palms covered in bleeding blisters. The blisters were the result of their desperate attempts to cling to steel rods as they crawled out of the shafts, a testament to the terrifying physical ordeal they endured to escape.
One of the miners, visibly distressed, expressed the depth of his despair: “We last had water on Friday morning. Things are bad at Shaft 10. I’d rather die here than as an illegal miner underground.” His words reflect not only the dire conditions of life in the shafts but also the immense psychological toll that such a life exacts. For many, the treacherous underground world is not just a place of physical suffering but also a prison, one that strips away any semblance of hope and dignity. Despite these unbearable circumstances, the alternative—remaining underground—is one that many are forced to accept, out of sheer desperation.
In the face of such adversity, members of the local community in Stilfontein have stepped forward to assist the miners, recognizing the impossibility of the task without outside help. Volunteers have been offering support to the zama-zamas, helping them resurface and providing whatever assistance they can. However, the local community’s efforts have not been enough to end the crisis. The number of miners coming out of the shafts continues to grow, with more than 1,300 miners having resurfaced since August. The consistent flow of miners seeking to escape the hellish conditions underground suggests that the scale of the illegal mining problem remains vast, with no easy solutions in sight.
As authorities continue to grapple with the issue, it’s clear that the situation is far from resolved. The miners’ stories reveal not only the dangers of illegal mining but also the severe exploitation that lies at its core. The zama-zamas, many of whom are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and violence, have few choices but to continue risking their lives in pursuit of an escape from their circumstances. As more miners are expected to surface in the coming days, the need for a comprehensive solution to the illegal mining crisis in South Africa becomes ever more urgent, with the safety and well-being of the miners hanging in the balance.
