The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), a non-governmental organisation, is raising concerns about illegal miners, known as zama zamas, allegedly trapped underground in Stilfontein mine, North West. MACUA claims they may need to return to court to secure a rescue order, as tensions mount over the fate of those underground.
Conflicting Narratives
South African Police Service (SAPS) maintains that the miners are not trapped but are refusing to surface for fear of arrest. This follows a Pretoria High Court decision dismissing an application by the Society for the Protection of Our Constitution, which sought an order to provide water and food to miners reportedly stuck in disused shafts.
MACUA, however, contends that the situation underground is dire. Christopher Rutledge, MACUA’s executive director, told Newzroom Afrika that evidence contradicts the SAPS narrative.
“The information we are getting from the ground is not the same as what the police are telling the nation,” Rutledge said. He described a labyrinth of tunnels spanning hundreds of kilometres, where miners lack fuel for lighting and struggle to navigate their way out.
A Desperate Situation Underground
Rutledge claims some miners who managed to surface reported taking days to traverse the tunnels. “Even the miners that came out on Sunday night… they are risking their lives to get out. The police are steadfastly refusing to allow those who want to exit to come out.”
MACUA has hinted at the possibility of renewed legal action, saying the court was not presented with a full account of the conditions underground.
Government Response
According to North West Community Safety MEC Wessels Morweng, over 1,259 illegal miners have surfaced since August 18. Most are undocumented foreign nationals, with the majority hailing from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
Morweng confirmed that a body was recovered, with investigations underway to determine its identity and cause of death. Miners who surface face legal processing by law enforcement, with undocumented individuals handed over to Home Affairs.
A Broader Humanitarian Crisis
The plight of zama zamas highlights deeper issues in South Africa’s mining sector, including unsafe working conditions and the socio-economic challenges that drive individuals to illegal mining. As MACUA and SAPS present clashing accounts, the urgency to address the humanitarian and legal aspects of this crisis continues to grow.
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