Image : SAPS
Relatives of the hundreds of illegal miners trapped underground in Orkney, North West, are pleading with authorities not to let their loved ones die from starvation and dehydration. Following a police and SANDF crackdown that blocked communities from delivering food and water to miners in abandoned shafts, over 500 miners resurfaced, and dozens were arrested. Families, however, say many are still stranded, including South African miners and undocumented migrants.
One woman, Thandeka, whose brother has been underground for nearly four months, voiced her distress to journalists. “We’re worried sick. It’s a regular thing for him to go down for a couple of months, but this time, it’s too long,” she said. Thandeka explained that her brother, who struggles with chronic health conditions, would usually receive daily food supplies and medication from community members, though he often complained about the intense underground heat. “With this police operation, we don’t know if he’s even able to take his medication. He’s a breadwinner for our family, and my mother, who has a heart condition, has been in and out of the hospital because of this.”
Thandeka’s frustration grew as she highlighted the inhumane treatment she felt the miners were facing. “We understand these people may be involved in illegal mining, but starving them isn’t the answer. If the authorities want to arrest them when they come up, so be it—just don’t let them die down there. If they are left with no way out, they might as well fill those shafts with concrete.” Her words echo the feelings of numerous families who are torn between the legal consequences of mining and the desperate need to see their loved ones alive again.
Meanwhile, North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed that those arrested after resurfacing appeared in court at the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court, with their cases postponed for further proceedings. “We are expecting over 300 suspects to make their first court appearance tomorrow,” Mokgwabone added, signaling that the crackdown on illegal mining is far from over.
For Thandeka’s family and others, however, the concern is far more immediate—simply knowing their relatives are alive and safe. As this tense situation continues, the impacted families are urging authorities to consider the human cost. “All we want is for them to be brought up alive,” Thandeka said. “We’re ready to face the consequences, but not at the cost of their lives.”
