Around 130 illegal miners, often referred to as zama zamas, are set to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, 17 January, following a dramatic rescue operation at the Stilfontein mine shafts in North West Province. The operation, which concluded on Thursday, 16 January, saw police successfully retrieve miners from the disused shafts, resulting in multiple arrests, including those of key figures allegedly orchestrating the illegal mining activities.
Between Monday, 13 January, and Wednesday, 15 January, several individuals believed to be the ringleaders of the operation were apprehended as part of the larger rescue effort at Shaft 11. The suspects were caught after emerging from the mine along with other illegal miners, who had been brought to the surface after being trapped underground.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with various allegations under review. These include claims that the miners were subjected to brutal conditions underground, including torture and even death at the hands of the kingpins running the illegal mining operation.
As the rescue operation wrapped up, the Department of Health concluded a week-long support mission at the site. Department spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi shared that medical teams attended to the sick and injured miners, providing urgent care before their transfer to police custody. While nine miners required further medical attention, the remaining individuals have been detained by law enforcement.
In addition to medical care, the operation also involved the transportation and storage of the bodies of those who had tragically lost their lives underground. Mothibedi emphasized that such operations are highly complex, especially when dealing with large numbers of people in critical conditions.
Sello Lehari, the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management in North West, praised the efforts of the medical teams and law enforcement personnel. He expressed pride in the progress made, noting that work on the bodies of the deceased has now shifted to the mortuaries. “The work is not finished,” Lehari said, “but we are making significant strides in handling this tragedy.”
The case continues to unfold, with many questioning the true scale of the illegal mining crisis in South Africa and the human cost of these dangerous operations.
