The Stilfontein mine shafts, long hotspots for illegal mining, have become a symbol of the desperation faced by thousands of miners seeking to make a living from disused mines. Picture: AI Generated
THE horrific tragedy at the Buffelsfontein Mine Shaft has laid bare South Africa’s deep-seated governance failures and systemic neglect, igniting widespread outrage and sparking the ire of civil society organisation Defend our Democracy, alongside political parties and activists, who condemned the disaster, which claimed the lives of 78 illegal miners and left 246 others severely malnourished or ill.
“This is an indictment on our collective conscience as a country,” Defend our Democracy declared in a statement on Friday. “People—human beings—were left to starve to death 2km underground, with false information peddled that they ‘could come up anytime they had wanted to’ but were refusing to do so to avoid arrest.”
The organisation described the images of emaciated bodies being retrieved from the mine as “appalling and distressing”, calling for urgent national reflection on how such a disaster could occur in a country bound by a Constitution that guarantees the right to life. “The state needs to accept ultimate responsibility for the violation of these human rights,” it said.
Defend our Democracy has called for a full inquiry into the crisis, emphasising the need to address systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to unfold. “While the government has every right to counter illegal mining and make arrests, law and order must be effected within the prescripts of a human rights framework,” the organisation said.
The group criticised government operations such as Operation Vala Umgodi, which it described as prioritising sealing abandoned mine shafts over protecting the lives of vulnerable miners. “The right to life, which is constitutionally guaranteed irrespective of a person’s nationality or legal status, was violated,” the statement read.
Adding to the criticism, Defend our Democracy pointed out the broader systemic issues that remain unaddressed, including the failure to regulate abandoned mine shafts, dismantle illegal mining syndicates, address unemployment, and create alternative livelihoods.
The Stilfontein mine shafts, long hotspots for illegal mining, have become a symbol of the desperation faced by thousands of miners seeking to make a living from disused mines. Many of these miners, known as zama zamas, are reportedly undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries, often working under perilous conditions.
Since August 2024, at least 1 907 illegal miners have surfaced as part of Operation Vala Umgodi. Meanwhile, critics argue that the government’s approach has done little to address the root causes of illegal mining. “This disaster is a consequence of years of neglect and a failure to implement sustainable solutions for affected communities,” Defend our Democracy said.
The Congress of the People (Cope) echoed calls for accountability, describing the tragedy as “state-sponsored mass murder”. Cope acting national chairperson Pakes Dikgetsi slammed the government for perpetuating a neocolonial system that prioritises the interests of capital over human lives.
“The gruesome and horrific pictures surfacing now show a government hellbent on using starvation, dehumanisation, and other forms of violence … leading to the slow and painful death of desperate people trying to eke out a living in the deepest pits of the earth,” Dikgetsi said.
Cope further called for the resignation of key ministers, including the Minister of Police and the Minister of Minerals and Energy. “If they do not resign, the President must sack them if he still has a conscience,” Dikgetsi said.
The DA also joined the call for a full commission of inquiry, submitting a detailed proposal to President Cyril Ramaphosa. DA spokesperson James Lorimer emphasised the need for transparency, saying: “This crisis warrants a full and transparent inquiry into the causes and consequences of the disaster.”
The DA’s proposed inquiry would examine the role of government agencies, the private sector, and systemic issues fuelling illegal mining. It would also scrutinise the government’s response to the rescue operation, which was conducted under court order.
The SA Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the conclusion of the rescue operation, stating that no miners remained underground. The final tally included 246 survivors and 78 deceased miners retrieved from depths of up to 2.5km.
SAPS acting North West Police Commissioner Patrick Asaneng assured that monitoring of the site would continue as part of Operation Vala Umgodi. “We will leave at a time when this particular hole is closed and sealed and rehabilitated,” he said.
However, the humanitarian toll remains staggering. Survivors—many of whom were undocumented migrants—face legal repercussions and uncertain futures while families mourn the loss of loved ones.
Defend our Democracy commended Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) and Lawyers for Human Rights for their advocacy, which played a key role in securing the court-ordered rescue operation. “We regret our own silence and inability to offer support to these organisations until now, when more information and footage began to emerge,” the organisation said.
Macua, together with other civil society groups, is organising a summit to address the systemic issues plaguing the mining sector and propose sustainable solutions. “This should never have been allowed to happen,” Defend our Democracy emphasised.
Experts have pointed to broader socio-economic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and the lack of economic alternatives, as root causes of illegal mining. The decline of South Africa’s mining industry has left behind abandoned shafts that serve as magnets for desperate miners.
“The government has failed to grow an inclusive economy that creates decent jobs,” Dikgetsi said. “Instead, it perpetuates a colonial system of extraction and exploitation.”
Defend our Democracy stressed the need for long-term reforms, including stricter mine rehabilitation, dismantling illegal mining syndicates, and providing alternative livelihoods. “The Stilfontein mine disaster is a stain on our national conscience. It should never be allowed to happen again,” the organisation said.
As South Africa grapples with the fallout from Stilfontein, the calls for accountability and systemic change grow louder, with civil society groups, political parties, and affected communities demanding action—not just to address the immediate tragedy but to prevent future disasters.
The question now is whether the government will rise to the challenge or whether Stilfontein will become another chapter in a history of neglect and injustice.
sizwe.dlamini@inl.co.za