Hundreds of miners are trapped in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa, prompting a government rescue mission. The operation follows a court case filed by the sister of one of the trapped miners, who claimed that 109 people had already died in the mine.
The South African government has launched a mission to rescue potentially hundreds of miners trapped in an illegal gold mine. This follows a court case initiated by the sister of one of the trapped miners, who claimed that 109 people had already died in the Buffelsfontein gold mine near Stilfontein, about 100 miles southwest of Johannesburg. The mine, like many others in South Africa, has been abandoned by industrial companies in recent decades, leading to a surge in illegal mining.
Analysts estimate that around 30,000 illegal miners are producing 10% of South Africa’s gold output in 6,000 abandoned mine shafts, often controlled by violent criminal syndicates. In an attempt to crack down on this sector, authorities in the north-eastern mining belt of South Africa blocked supplies of food, water, and medicine to the miners in mid-October. They claimed that this had forced hundreds of miners to surface. However, later in November, they allowed some supplies to be sent down. The blockade in the 1.2-mile deep shafts at Buffelsfontein began as far back as August, according to an affidavit by miner Clement Moeletsi, who was rescued by locals using ropes on December 9th. Moeletsi claimed in his affidavit that by September, the miners were eating cockroaches and toothpaste mixed with salt. Two other miners, rescued on December 25th and another who climbed out using a thin metal pole, have alleged that some people have resorted to eating dead bodies.Authorities maintain that the miners are hiding underground to avoid arrest, pointing out that about 1,500 people have emerged from another mine shaft in the area. However, Jessica Lawrence of Lawyers for Human Rights, representing the NGO Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), insists that the men at the Buffelsfontein mine shaft could not reach the other mine shaft underground. She said that nine bodies have already been recovered. Macua shared a phone video, allegedly brought to the surface by a rescued miner on Friday, that appeared to show more than 50 wrapped bodies laid out in an underground tunnel. Another video showed dozens of emaciated men with protruding ribs and collarbones, one of whom pleads in English for them to be given food and rescued. The operation to rescue the miners is being carried out by private company Mines Rescue Services, which said on Monday afternoon that it had started hoisting miners to safety. The company’s crane-winched cage can bring up six people an hour, and the operation could take up to 16 days, according to the firm’s chief executive, Mannas Fourie. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe stated, “It is unfortunate that there is loss of life… No one should have been underground because there are dangerous and hazardous gases underground and alleged abuse of illegal miners. We will be investigating allegations that the food that was sent down was kept from illegal miners.
SOUTH AFRICA MINING ILLEGAL MINERS GOLD MINE RESCUE MISSION HEALTH CRISIS
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