Standoff with Illegal Miners in South Africa
Authorities in South Africa are currently embroiled in a tense standoff with a large number of illegal miners, commonly referred to as zama-zamas, who have taken refuge inside a disused mine located in the North West province. To compel the miners to surrender, the police have strategically cut off their access to essential supplies, including food and water, in an operation aimed at “smoking them out.” The situation in Stilfontein has escalated as law enforcement officials have sealed off the mine’s entrances that were previously used to deliver provisions underground.
Reports suggest that there may be as many as 4,000 miners trapped underground, according to information gathered from individuals who recently assisted in bringing three miners to the surface. However, police have yet to provide an official estimate of the number of miners still inside. In recent weeks, at least 1,000 illegal miners have emerged, many in a state of extreme weakness, hunger, and illness due to prolonged deprivation of supplies.
On Thursday, police continued to maintain their presence around the mine, capturing those attempting to surface. Tragically, a decomposed body was discovered at the site, prompting the arrival of pathologists to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, as confirmed by police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni addressed the situation on Wednesday, firmly stating that the government would not extend assistance to the illegal miners, labeling their activities as criminal. “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will emerge. Criminals are not to be assisted. We didn’t send them there,” Ntshavheni asserted, underscoring the government’s stance on the matter.
High-ranking police and defense officials are scheduled to visit the area on Friday to bolster the ongoing operation. Mining security analysts have raised doubts about the police’s estimate of the number of zama-zamas underground, suggesting a more realistic figure might be around 2,000, as reported by local media outlets.
Illegal mining has plagued South Africa’s historic gold mining regions for decades, with miners often venturing into abandoned shafts in search of any remaining mineral deposits. The zama-zamas are frequently migrants from neighboring countries, and authorities indicate that their illegal activities are often linked to larger syndicates that employ them. This situation has led to heightened tensions with local communities, who accuse the illegal miners of committing various crimes, including robbery and sexual assault.
In response to the growing crisis, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed thousands of soldiers in November of last year to assist in combating illegal mining as part of a comprehensive operation costing 492 million rand (approximately €26 million).
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Earlier this month, acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya reported that since December 2023, at least 13,690 suspects involved in illegal mining have been arrested across seven provinces. The Minerals Council South Africa, an advocacy organization for the industry, has estimated that illegal mining results in economic losses amounting to tens of billions of rand annually due to lost export revenue, royalties, and taxes.
