Illegal miners trapped underground at Stilfontein have made an unusual request for beef and instant porridge after being holed up in a disused mine shaft. Following the lowering of 1,000 units of mageu, a traditional fermented drink, to the miners, a message was sent to surface community members asking for a supply of beef to help sustain them.
The message, written in blue ink on a white piece of paper, was hoisted from the underground by volunteers and community members who had been assisting the illegal miners, known as zama zamas. It read, “We apologise to tell u that those sick people, they ask us to tell u that they want something like beef so that they can be tight and also instant porridge they will be thankful (sic).” The request was accompanied by a plea for additional food, including porridge and water.
The situation at the Stilfontein mine has become increasingly dire. On Tuesday, the retrieval of an eleventh body from the mine was reported. Volunteers, who had been lowering food supplies to the trapped miners, discovered the body after receiving a note from the miners. The note indicated that they would be using the same ropes to hoist the bodies as those used to send down food parcels. The decomposed body was subsequently brought to the surface alongside the supplies. Authorities believe more bodies could still be trapped within the mine.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the national police, confirmed that the body was retrieved from the Stilfontein mine. Despite the ongoing efforts to deliver food, the miners have continued to refuse to surface, leaving both authorities and community members in a state of uncertainty.
The tragic situation has drawn attention to the dangerous and illegal practice of mining by zama zamas, which has resulted in the loss of lives. The community’s efforts to provide aid reflect the urgent need to address the crisis while also emphasizing the risks faced by those engaging in illegal mining activities.
