South African mine crisis: Hundreds trapped underground in gold-seeking incident
Police block food-and-water supplies to force out illegal miners from deep underground shaft in South Africa. Over thousand people already came up while hundreds remain stuck in 2-km deep tunnel
At an old mine-shaft in Stilfontein South-Africa police are in a stand-off with illegal gold-seekers whoʼve been stuck underground (some since last spring). Over 1000 people came up in past weeks but many remain below
The two-kilometer deep shaft has become a center of attention where worried family members gather near its entrance. Roselina Nyuzeya a Zimbabwe citizen waits outside saying “Iʼm here waiting for young people who are underground who are dying“
Police minister Senzo Mchunu visited the site and stated its important to speed-up the process; while earlier another govt official suggested they should “smoke them out“. Local people responded with signs saying “Smoke ANC out“ (referring to the ruling party)
The situation shows different sides of illegal mining in South-Africa:
- Most workers come from nearby countries
- Theyʼre known as zama-zamas which means taking a chance
- They look for left-over gold in old mines
- One dead body was already found
A make-shift pulley system stands ready at the rocky entrance while Matsidiso Ramolla a local resident explains: “We are asking for help from govt to assist us so our children can come out“
We need a much quicker process because it is risky and dangerous for them to remain where they are
The authorities dont know if those still inside cant or wont come out - but they keep blocking food-and-water supplies to make them surface
