A body has been recovered from a South African gold mine after authorities cut off essential supplies in an effort to force around 4,000 illegal miners to resurface. The body was retrieved from the closed mine in Stilfontein, a town in the northwest of the country, just one day after the South African government declared it would not provide assistance to the illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas.”
The miners, who entered the abandoned gold mine illegally, have been trapped underground for weeks. In response, South African police launched the “Close the Hole” operation, cutting off food, water, and other essential supplies in a bid to encourage the miners to come out of the shaft. According to local reports, the supply routes to the mine were severed about two months ago, with some miners’ relatives seen in the vicinity as the standoff continues.
Since the operation began, around 20 miners have emerged from the shaft, and police are stationed nearby to arrest anyone who surfaces. South African authorities have vowed to take action against the miners, who are engaged in illegal activity, despite the dangerous conditions underground.
On Thursday, the decomposed body of one miner was brought to the surface, and pathologists were dispatched to examine the remains. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed the discovery, stating that the body had been recovered as part of the ongoing operation.
This development comes a day after South African Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni firmly stated that the government would not offer any assistance to the illegal miners. In a press conference on Wednesday, Ntshavheni said, “We are not sending help to criminals. We are going to smoke them out. They will come out. Criminals are not to be helped; criminals are to be prosecuted. We didn’t send them there.”
The “Close the Hole” operation has been marked by growing tensions, with many of the miners reported to be weak, hungry, and sick due to the lack of supplies. Over the past few weeks, more than 1,000 miners have surfaced from various mines in the North West province, often in frail conditions.
Illegal mining remains a significant issue in South Africa, where miners often enter abandoned gold mines to extract any remaining precious materials. The government’s response to the crisis has drawn both criticism and support, with officials emphasizing the importance of enforcing the law while also highlighting the dangerous and illegal nature of the activities.
Senior police and defense officials are expected to visit the area on Friday to reinforce the operation’s goals and ensure that it concludes in a safe and lawful manner.
