One of the illegal miners rescued from the disused gold mines in Stilfontein has tragically died in hospital, the North West provincial Department of Health confirmed. The miner, identified as Koali Rankomo, passed away early on Monday at around 4 a.m. at the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Tertiary Hospital in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Rankomo had been admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis and severe dehydration, conditions often linked to the harsh and unsanitary conditions found underground in the mines.
Rankomo was part of a group of 33 illegal miners who were brought to the hospital under police guard following their rescue last week during a large-scale operation aimed at freeing zama zamas—illegal miners who work in abandoned mines. Despite the desperate efforts to save lives, Rankomo’s death marks the first fatality among those rescued, leaving 32 miners still receiving treatment.
The group of miners had been trapped underground for months, and the rescue operation followed a series of tragic events that unfolded at the Stilfontein mine. This mine, once part of South Africa’s thriving gold industry, has long been abandoned, but has remained a hotspot for illegal mining. The zama zamas often work in perilous conditions, with little regard for safety, and are known to endure extreme deprivation while seeking gold in the underground shafts.
The deaths of several miners during the rescue operation have sparked outrage, and some families are now planning to sue the government for damages, accusing authorities of negligence. The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (Giwusa) revealed that 78 bodies had been recovered from the mine after a court-ordered rescue operation. The union claims that the deceased miners died as a result of starvation and the appalling conditions they were forced to endure deep underground.
In light of these events, Giwusa has announced that it intends to bring a case against the government through the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua). The organization seeks to hold the state accountable for the miners’ deaths, arguing that the government bears responsibility for allowing such dangerous conditions to persist. Legal representatives for the miners’ families have indicated that a Constitutional Court case is already in progress, focused on securing justice for those who lost their lives in the mine.
Further complicating the situation, Giwusa is calling for a commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the miners’ deaths and the conditions at the Stilfontein mine. The union has also demanded a thorough review of the roles played by government officials, law enforcement, and even media outlets in this disaster. They argue that all responsible parties should be held criminally accountable for their actions and inactions.
Meanwhile, the surviving miners continue to receive medical care, though concerns over their physical and emotional well-being remain high. While authorities focus on caring for the survivors, the families of the deceased are left to cope with the loss of their loved ones, many of whom had been underground for months without any direct contact with their families. As the legal battles unfold, the tragedy at Stilfontein raises serious questions about the state’s role in regulating illegal mining, and whether enough is being done to prevent such disasters from happening in the future.
