Graphic videos depicting the horrific conditions and deaths of scores of illegal miners trapped in a disused South African gold mine have gone viral, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation.
The footage, which has circulated widely online, shows emaciated survivors and piles of bodies, allegedly victims of starvation and dehydration, highlighting the devastating consequences of a government crackdown on illegal mining.
The videos, first released by the General Industries Workers of South Africa (Giwusa) trade union on Saturday, 11 January, and subsequently verified by Reuters and other news organisations, offer a harrowing glimpse into the depths of human suffering within the abandoned Stilfontein mine shaft, approximately 145km southwest of Johannesburg. One video shows dozens of shirtless men, their faces blurred for privacy, sitting on a dirty floor.
A voice off-camera pleads for help, stating: “We’re starting to show you the bodies of those who died underground… And this is not all of them… Do you see how people are struggling? Please we need help.”
The footage, which purportedly shows dozens of corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags, alongside severely malnourished survivors, has ignited a firestorm of criticism directed at South African authorities.
Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei, in a briefing near the rescue operation site on Monday, 13 January, condemned the government’s actions, stating: “What has transpired here has to be called what it is; this is a Stilfontein massacre. Because what this footage does is show a pile of human bodies, of miners that died needlessly.”
Sebei directly blamed the authorities for what he termed a “treacherous policy” deliberately pursued.
This condemnation is echoed by community leader Thembile Botman, who confirmed the findings of a chilling post-mortem report. The report, released by the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) on Monday, concludes that the miners died from starvation and hunger.
Botman stated unequivocally: “We can confirm that all the people have died of hunger and starvation. It’s true that there’s also an issue of cannibalism underground. If you remember, there’s a letter that surfaced saying they are feasting on human flesh because there’s no food.”
This horrifying claim is supported by the testimony of a rescued miner who admitted to resorting to cannibalism to survive.
The crisis at Stilfontein began last year when police launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining. Authorities, citing the miners’ unauthorised entry into the shaft, implemented a hardline approach, cutting off food and water supplies. In November, a government minister infamously declared: “We are going to smoke them out.”
This strategy, coupled with the destruction of a pulley system used to lower supplies and facilitate escape, resulted in hundreds of miners becoming trapped underground. While over 1,000 have since emerged, hundreds remain trapped, and more than 100 are reported to have died, although the authorities have yet to officially confirm this figure.
The long-delayed rescue operation, mandated by a court order last week, finally commenced on Monday. The Department of Mineral Resources, leading the rescue effort, employs a cage system capable of carrying six or seven people at a time, descending the approximately 2km-deep shaft every hour.
By the end of Monday, 26 miners had been brought to the surface alive, along with nine bodies. However, Department spokesperson Makhosonke Buthelezi could not confirm whether the priority would be rescuing the living or retrieving the deceased, pending an official report scheduled for Tuesday.
The videos obtained by MACUA on Monday, 13 January, from miners emerging from the mine on 10 January, following the restoration of a pulley system by community members, provide further evidence of the dire situation.
A Reuters reporter counted what appeared to be at least three dozen bodies in the footage, although independent confirmation of the nature of the body-shaped objects wrapped in plastic remains pending. The footage also depicts severely emaciated survivors, their ribs clearly visible.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has not responded to requests for comment. Makhosonke Buthelezi, spokesperson for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, confirmed the retrieval of bodies but declined to provide further details before the official report.
Magnificent Mndebele, spokesperson for MACUA, stated that over 400 miners remain trapped underground, two months after the initial standoff with police, emphasizing the urgency of the ongoing rescue operation. Mndebele highlighted the challenges posed by the mine’s depth, stating: “The shaft is two kilometres deep. It’s impossible for people to climb up.”
The incident at Stilfontein underscores the complex and tragic consequences of South Africa’s ongoing struggle with illegal mining, highlighting the plight of undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries, who constitute the majority of Zama Zamas, and the devastating human cost of harsh government policies.
The viral videos have undeniably captured global attention, forcing a renewed focus on the urgent need for a humane and effective solution to this devastating crisis. The official briefing scheduled for Tuesday is expected to provide further details on the rescue operation and the ongoing investigation into the deaths of the miners.
