We fried human flesh to survive underground, thighs and biceps were our favourite, people were dying every minute: Zama Zama reveals all

The grim realities of illegal mining in South Africa have been laid bare by a zama zama who recently emerged from the depths of Stilfontein Mine, recounting a harrowing tale of survival and cannibalism.

Emerging on Christmas Day, 25 December 2024, after five months trapped underground, this individual shared a chilling account of his ordeal, painting a picture of desperation and death.

He described witnessing his fellow miners resorting to cannibalism, driven to such extremes by hunger.

“They would target people who die in attempts to escape underground,” he explained. “They would go for the ones who had just died and would eat most body parts, excluding intestines and the head.”

He detailed the horrific practice, stating, “They would fry and cook human flesh for supper. They consumed parts of the thigh and biceps.”

The zama zama described the scene as “like a movie,” a stark contrast to the grim reality of their situation. “Unfortunately for us, it was a reality that we had to face. People were dying every minute. The sad part is when you attempt to tell people that miners are dying. No one would believe me,” he lamented.

Another illegal miner, a 40-year-old man, corroborated the horrific conditions underground. He recounted his journey to the surface, describing the perilous climb and the sights that met him along the way.

“On my way up, I came across 10 dead bodies that were already in a state of decomposition,” he said, highlighting the constant threat of death within the mine. He also described witnessing others falling to their deaths. “Their bodies would scatter all over as some would slip and fall on top of rocks,” he recounted.

These men, both South African nationals, entered the mine on 31 July 2024, driven by desperate circumstances. One, a 38-year-old father of six, explained his motivations: “I was promised a salary of R9 000 a month. This was my first time doing this job, and unfortunately, on my attempt, Operation Vala Umgodi surfaced. I’m thankful that I’m out and alive.”

He detailed his arduous escape, utilising steel rods to ascend the shafts, a testament to the ingenuity and desperation required for survival. “I had to stay awake for five days,” he explained. “If you make a mistake and fall asleep, you’ll fall and die. I used all my inner-strength to stay alive. When we left, there were 15 of us, but only nine resurfaced.”

The other zama zama shared similar motivations. “I came here to get money for my Code 14 licence,” he said, while his companion stated, “I went inside to make money to fulfil my dreams of being a security guard with a firearm permit.”

Their stories underscore the economic desperation driving individuals to undertake such perilous work. Both men described the meagre rations they subsisted on: “We would eat spoiled maize meal,” they said. “We would cook it and eat it, and you know that if you don’t eat it, you’ll die.”

Their accounts also confirmed the presence of armed bosses controlling operations within the mine.

“Everybody wanted to come out, including those with pending murder cases,” one of the miners stated, highlighting the desperation to escape the dangerous conditions. The sheer number of people involved is staggering. Operation Vala Umgodi, launched in August 2024, has already led to the arrest of over 2000 suspected illegal miners and the recovery of more than 80 bodies.

However, the situation is further complicated by the alleged escape of James Neo “Tiger” Tshoaeli, an alleged illegal mining ringleader, from police custody. North West acting police commissioner Patrick Asaneng confirmed the involvement of police officers in the escape.

“It was only upon verification and investigation, when he was supposed to be taken, that despite the numbers tallying this particular individual was unaccounted for and that’s when we started with the investigation,” Asaneng explained.

“I want to say that the investigation was initiated not as a complaint from the other illegal miners, but because of the information that was brought to my attention. We cannot, as the South African Police Service, allow corrupt individuals and members to be in our midst,” he stated firmly.

Asaneng identified the officers responsible for transporting suspects from the mine as the focus of the investigation.

“Tiger surfaced with other miners on a particular day, as per our records we know who the members are who were on duty. We are not just investigating wildly; we know who the possible culprits in this matter are. We want to tie whatever loose ends, not based on suppositions and allegations, but we want to bring credible evidence before the courts,” he said.

He described the incident as an embarrassment and pledged to bring all those involved to justice. Other miners identified Tshoaeli as a brutal figure, responsible for the torture and starvation of hundreds of illegal miners. The accounts of the zama zamas, coupled with the police commissioner’s statement, paint a disturbing picture of the illegal mining industry and the urgent need for effective law enforcement and social intervention.