They call them zama zamas, they are trapped in a mine. Some are already dead

Stilfontein is located in the North-West Province of South Africa, bordering Botswana. Stilfontein community leader Thembile Botman told reporters on Wednesday that contact was made on Tuesday with people deep underground known as South Africa zama zamas, in Zulu “those who try their luck”, miners who illegally enter the mines.

Many of them are dehydrated and starving because they stay in underground corridors for long periods without food or water. Some of them are sick and cannot move. Botman also confirmed reports that there were bodies underground.

Residents of Stilfontein helped the trapped zama zamas for several days, providing them with water and food, but heavy rains closed access to the shaft.

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The police are waiting for the miners on the surface and they have surrounded all possible exits from the mine. Its spokesman, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, said they could resurface at any time. He added that since October 18, just over a thousand zama zamas have voluntarily surrendered themselves to the police when their water and food supplies ran out. They were accused of violating the Immigration Act, as most of them came from Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and of being involved in illegal mining.

Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that “the government will not provide any assistance to people who extract resources illegally because they are engaged in criminal activities.” – Criminals should not be helped, criminals should be prosecuted. We did not send them there, said Ntshavheni, quoted by the AP agency.

Police in South Africa are hunting zama zamas who have been breaking into closed gold, chrome and platinum mines for years. The operation was given the code name Vala Umgodi (close the hole – ed.). Since December 2023, more than 13,500 people have been arrested in seven provinces.

In South Africa, illegal mineral extraction in closed mines has been increasing for several years, driven by the country's deteriorating economic conditions, unemployment and labor migration from neighboring countries. According to the South African police, illegal mining is closely linked to international gangs, and the zama zamas themselves are sometimes armed and do not hesitate to shoot at the police.