Rescue volunteers at a South African gold mine have reported that all trapped illegal miners appear to have been evacuated from underground.
Since operations began on Monday, over 200 miners have been rescued, and at least 78 bodies have been recovered. This follows a court directive compelling the government to initiate rescue efforts at the site, which has drawn international attention as one of the mining industry’s most devastating disasters.
Authorities plan to send a rescue cage underground on Thursday for a final inspection, aiming to confirm no one remains below, according to police statements.
The crisis has roots in a government crackdown last November, which instructed police to detain any miners who emerged from illegal mining operations in an effort to curtail the practice.
Public anger erupted on Tuesday when local residents, frustrated by the government’s response, confronted police and officials, including the mines minister, demanding accountability for the tragic loss of life.
Before the rescue officially started, an estimated 1,500 miners reportedly came to the surface voluntarily, according to Reuters. However, many stayed underground, either out of fear of arrest or because they were being coerced by criminal syndicates operating within the mine.
Commenting on claims that the underground section is now empty, a police spokesperson said, “We will rely on the Mine Rescue Service to verify this using their advanced equipment.
“They plan to deploy the rescue cage tomorrow to check if anyone else surfaces. Until then, we cannot officially declare the operation over.”
The gold mine in Stilfontein, situated about 145km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, is one of many abandoned sites across South Africa that have been taken over by illegal mining operations. Often led by gangs, these groups extract minerals for sale on the black market.
Rescue teams have been using a cage to descend roughly 2km (1.2 miles) into the mine in search of survivors. Many who were rescued had endured months underground without sufficient food or water, leaving them in dire physical condition. Medical teams are now treating them.
Authorities have confirmed that those rescued will face charges related to illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations, as most of the miners are undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries.
Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe has defended the government’s approach, calling the illegal activities an assault on the country’s economy. “It’s a crime against the economy, an attack on the economy,” he stated on Wednesday.
South Africa’s once-thriving mining sector heavily depended on labour from nations like Lesotho and Mozambique. With the industry’s decline and unemployment rates now exceeding 30%, many former miners claim they have few alternatives to earn a living.
