Illegal Miners Struggle to Survive Amid South Africa Standoff

Hundreds of clandestine miners in South Africa are facing dire conditions as a police operation seeks to force them out of an abandoned gold mine shaft in Stilfontein, about 150 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg. The miners, known locally as zama zamas, are battling to survive after being cut off from food and water supplies for nearly two weeks.

Ayanda Ndabeni, a zama zama who had been underground for two months, described the grim situation after escaping on Friday. “There’s nothing left for someone to eat, to drink, or anything that can make a human being survive,” he said. “We suffered underground. Some of us died. Some are critically ill.” One decomposed body was recovered from the mine last week, and fears persist that more may be found.

Police have set up a blockade around the disused mine, preventing locals from delivering essential supplies. They have also arrested undocumented migrants who surface from the mine. Local reports suggest there were around 4,000 people underground, although police estimate the number to be in the hundreds.

Life Underground

Ndabeni, who has been a zama zama for ten years, began mining illegally after the regular mine he worked at closed in 2014. The abandoned shaft was left open, and, with no other employment opportunities, he joined the ranks of the illegal miners. Only a few miners can exit the shaft each day due to the lack of equipment, with just one rope available to bring people in and out. The shaft is around 1,500 meters deep, with tunnels extending even deeper.

After spending two months underground, Ndabeni was brought up last week and questioned by police. Since he is a South African citizen with no criminal record, he was released, but many of the other miners who resurfaced were detained for being undocumented migrants.

Government Response and Local Backlash

South African officials have been divided on how to handle the zama zamas. Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said, “Honestly, we’re not sending help to criminals, we’re going to smoke them out,” which has sparked significant criticism. However, a court intervened, ordering police to lift all restrictions around the mine shaft. This ruling allowed locals to send supplies to the miners, including 600 packets of instant porridge and 600 liters of water— the first aid sent to the miners since Tuesday.

Community leader Johannes Qankase emphasized the need for urgent assistance, saying that the miners were weak and severely dehydrated. “They must get food, they must get water, they must get their medical pills,” he urged.

The Zama Zama Reality

Illegal mining has become a lifeline for many unemployed individuals, especially those from neighboring countries like Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Ndabeni explained, “Underground, there is a life for us who don’t have jobs and who worked on these mines before.” Many locals also benefit from the trade with the miners, making the situation a complex issue for the community.

Despite the ongoing police operation, Ndabeni expressed his willingness to return to the mine: “If they do not stop me, I would go back tomorrow.” The zama zama phenomenon continues to highlight the deep socio-economic challenges in South Africa, where many are left with little choice but to resort to dangerous, illegal mining in abandoned shafts.