A total of thirty-four illegal miners have resurfaced from the Stilfontein mine in North West Province since Sunday, 24 November, sparking heightened concern among authorities. Fourteen miners emerged on Sunday night, followed by an additional twenty on Monday, 25 November. Authorities are bracing for the possibility of more miners emerging as the situation continues to unfold.
Since the operation began on 18 August, a total of 1,259 illegal miners have been rescued from the mine, with the majority coming from neighboring countries. Among those rescued, 871 are Mozambicans, 343 are Zimbabweans, 33 are from Lesotho, one is Malawian, and only 10 are South Africans. While one body has been discovered, authorities are still working to determine the nationality and cause of death.
Wessels Morweng, North West’s MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, provided further details about the ongoing operation, which is now in its second phase. Over the weekend, advanced machinery and equipment, including cameras, were used to assess the conditions inside the mine shaft. The focus was on determining the methane gas levels, the structural integrity of the shaft, and gathering intelligence on the number of miners still underground. “A note from underground on Friday indicated about 500 miners, with 300 reported to be ill and requesting food,” said Morweng.
On Saturday, 23 November, 12 miners emerged from the Margaret Shaft, including 11 Mozambicans and one Zimbabwean. The following day, another 14 Mozambicans resurfaced from Shaft 10, which authorities noted had been flooded. These miners were wet, further confirming the presence of water in the shaft. On 25 November, 20 miners emerged from the Margaret Shaft, including 15 from Lesotho, three Mozambicans, and two Zimbabweans, bringing the total number of miners resurfacing in the past 24 hours to 34. Some of the miners reported being held against their will by armed individuals, adding to the complexity of the situation.
