‘Mammoth task’ to identify South Africa mine victims, police say

A police spokesperson in South Africa has described the task of identifying the bodies recovered from a disused mineshaft as a “mammoth task,” following a tragic rescue operation this week. Seventy-eight bodies and over 240 illegal miners have been brought to the surface since Monday, as part of an operation to rescue those trapped underground. The miners had been in the shaft since at least November, when authorities began taking stronger action to curb illicit mining activities.

The mine, located in Stilfontein, about 145 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, has now been cleared of both living miners and deceased individuals. The police had previously surrounded the entrance to the mine, cutting off supplies of food and water in an attempt to end the illegal mining. Authorities maintained that miners were free to leave the site at any time, but the situation escalated, with many of the miners either trapped underground or fearful of emerging due to the presence of gangs controlling the area.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a police spokesperson, confirmed that two of the deceased have been identified so far. She explained that many of the bodies recovered were so decomposed that only bones remained, making identification difficult. The challenge is compounded by the fact that most of the deceased are undocumented migrants, some of whom may not have been reported missing by their families. DNA tests are being conducted to assist in the identification process. The majority of the survivors are from neighboring countries such as Mozambique and Zimbabwe, which have been a source of labor for South Africa’s mining sector in recent years.

The tragic operation has sparked accusations from trade unions and rights groups, who have labeled the authorities’ actions as tantamount to a massacre. However, police have defended their operations, stating that they were combating criminality in the form of illegal mining activities, and that it was the powerful gangs controlling the mines who were preventing workers from leaving. During a visit by the police and mines ministers, an angry crowd blamed the government for the deaths, insulting the officials and demanding accountability.

Before the rescue operation began, over 1,500 miners had surfaced, but many others remain underground, either out of fear of arrest or because they are being forced to stay there by the gangs. The mine in Stilfontein, like many others in South Africa, was abandoned by mining companies over the last three decades due to economic unfeasibility. In many cases, these abandoned mines were overtaken by criminal gangs, often former employees, who exploit the mines for their resources and sell the minerals on the black market.

The rescue operation itself involved a cage making multiple trips down a shaft believed to be at least 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) deep. Many of the survivors had been without food or water for months, leaving them in emaciated conditions. They are now receiving medical care, though authorities have warned that they will face charges for illegal mining, trespassing, and violating immigration laws, as the majority of the miners are undocumented.

Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe defended the government’s tough approach, calling illegal mining an “attack on the economy.” He emphasized that the country’s mining industry, once a major source of wealth, had been severely impacted by the decline in the sector and the increasing prevalence of illegal mining. Before the industry’s downturn, South Africa had relied heavily on foreign miners, especially those from countries like Lesotho and Mozambique, to fill labor gaps.

Unemployment in South Africa is currently above 30%, and many former miners, with few alternative sources of income, have turned to illegal mining as a means of survival. This situation has led to the rise of dangerous and unsanctioned mining operations, often with dire consequences. The government’s ongoing efforts to combat this illicit industry, particularly in areas like Stilfontein, reflect the growing challenges the country faces in balancing economic needs with human rights and safety concerns.

As the investigation continues and bodies are identified, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions in which many migrant workers find themselves in South Africa’s illegal mining industry, as well as the broader issues of poverty and unemployment affecting the region.