EXCLUSIVE: South Africa Faces Humanitarian Crisis as Illegal Miners Trapped Underground

A South African court has ordered the rescue of hundreds of illegal miners trapped deep underground in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein region. The court has ordered the local police in an interim ruling that all miners should be allowed to leave, and their exit should not be blocked. The detailed ruling is supposed to be announced next week.

The court's decision came in response to growing concerns over the miners' deteriorating conditions after authorities cut off essential supplies, including food and water.

According to local media reports, hundreds if not thousands of miners are illegally holed up in the abandoned gold mines of South Africa. This issue of illegal mining is quite prevalent in the region since the past few decades.

In a bid to “smoke out the miners”, the government announced last week that it would restrict food, water and other essential supplies to the mines.

This tactic of the government has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and labor unions arguing that it puts the lives of the miners at grave risk. The South African Human Rights Commission allege that the supply has been shut off for three months.

South African authorities, however, justified their actions, claiming that these extreme steps are necessary to crack down on illegal mining activities. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe explained, "We are stopping and preventing food and water to go down there as a way of forcing these illegal miners to resurface because what they are doing is criminality."

The government was successful in forcing out three miners after cutting supplies. After resurfacing, they spoke to local media and narrated the dire conditions the miners are living in. They said there are close to 4,000 miners underground who are facing dire circumstances, including starvation, dehydration, and exposure to toxic fumes. At least one decomposed body has been recovered from the mine, with potentially more inside.

According to South Africa's Minerals Commission, illegal miners can venture up to 4 kilometers underground and stay there for extended periods, sometimes months at a time.

The Root of the Problem

South Africa's abundant mineral resources and the legacy of abandoned mines have created a fertile ground for illegal mining. The high levels of unemployment and poverty in the country further exacerbate the issue, forcing desperate individuals to seek dangerous and unregulated work.

A glimmer of hope has emerged with the court's order. It could pave the way for a rescue operation. However, the challenges remain significant, given the complex nature of the mine and the potential risks involved in any rescue attempt.

As the situation unfolds, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a successful outcome and a resolution to the humanitarian crisis.