Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has issued a stern warning to illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West, stating that no one will remain underground forever as authorities continue their crackdown on illegal mining activities. His comments come after 14 illegal miners, known as zama zamas, resurfaced on the night of Sunday, 24 November, believing that police had vacated the mine.
Among those who emerged was a 14-year-old boy. According to National Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the miners are all believed to be Mozambican nationals, and they have since been detained in police custody. The miners’ testimonies have revealed grim details of their experience underground. They confirmed earlier reports from law enforcement that no one was trapped, but that they had been guarded by a group of heavily armed Basotho nationals who forced them to work in the mines.
Mathe explained that the illegal miners had been subjected to severe conditions. “They have confirmed that 10 Basotho guards were forcing them to dig for gold, with food and water confiscated by the guards. These miners were not allowed to eat or drink unless they worked for it,” she said.
One of the miners, who resurfaced on Sunday night, shared his harrowing experience. He explained that he had been recruited in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, back in July with the promise of a job, only to find himself working underground without pay. “It was tough inside. They ran out of food, and we had to keep working to get anything to eat,” he said. “People are hungry and being beaten down there. I didn’t know this is what I’d be doing when I first came.”
The miner added that many others are still trapped underground, enduring similar conditions, and he called on the police to provide assistance to those still stuck in the mine. His distressing account highlights the dangerous and exploitative nature of illegal mining operations, which continue to pose significant risks to both the miners and local communities.
Minister Mchunu has vowed to intensify efforts to combat illegal mining and bring those responsible for exploiting vulnerable workers to justice. His commitment to ending this dangerous practice signals a determination to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that illegal mining operations no longer flourish in South Africa.
