4,000 illegal miners trapped underground in South Africa as heavy rains stall rescue efforts

An estimated 4,000 illegal miners remain trapped in an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, located in South Africa’s North West province, with rescue operations currently halted due to severe rainfall, according to provincial police on Wednesday.

Speaking with Xinhua, North West police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone stated that community-led rescue efforts would resume once weather conditions improve.

“We are still at the site. The rain is extremely heavy, and operations have been suspended for now,” he explained.

The crisis began on November 2, when more than 50 illegal miners emerged from the relatively “safe” Margaret shaft, reporting that thousands of others were still underground in more hazardous, abandoned shafts located far from Margaret.

Mokgwabone indicated that the trapped miners face particularly dangerous conditions in these deteriorated tunnels.

Despite the risks, some community members descended into the shafts on Tuesday using ropes, witnessing thousands of trapped miners, including deceased individuals.

They provided food and water to those trapped, while police and medical personnel maintained a presence at the site to monitor and support rescue efforts.

Authorities revealed that the 55 miners who managed to resurface have been arrested for violating immigration and illegal mining laws.

The ongoing presence of illegal miners, or “zama zamas,” in abandoned mines has posed a persistent challenge in South Africa, particularly in regions such as North West, Gauteng, and the Free State provinces.

Mokgwabone noted that authorities continue to crack down on illegal mining operations as part of “Operation Vala Umgodi,” which targets the unauthorized exploitation of disused gold mines.

The majority of the illegal miners are reported to be from neighboring countries, including Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Thousands have been apprehended since the initiative’s launch, but the scale and complexity of the issue persist, underlining the urgent need for effective solutions.