The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the recovery of 87 bodies and the retrieval of 1,905 illegal miners, also known as zama zamas, during a large-scale operation at the Buffelsfontein shaft 11 in Stilfontein, North West Province. The rescue and recovery effort, which began on Monday, revealed the harrowing toll of illegal mining activities in the area.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS national spokesperson, provided a breakdown of the operation’s results, highlighting the multinational composition of the miners involved. Of the 1,905 individuals who resurfaced alive, the majority were Mozambican nationals (1,125), followed by 465 Zimbabweans and 200 miners from Lesotho. Only 26 South Africans were among the survivors, along with a Malawian and a Congolese national.
The operation also uncovered 87 fatalities, with 78 bodies recovered since Monday. SAPS reported that 246 individuals were retrieved during the final phase of the operation. Nine of those arrested remain hospitalized under police guard.
The breakdown of those retrieved alive earlier this week included 128 Mozambicans, 80 miners from Lesotho, 33 Zimbabweans, and five South Africans.
The stark statistics underline the dangerous conditions of illegal mining in South Africa and its cross-border implications. Zama zamas, driven by economic desperation, often work in hazardous conditions with little to no regard for safety protocols. The Buffelsfontein operation is part of a broader effort to address the growing crisis of illicit mining in the country, which has led to severe economic and human consequences.
Authorities are calling for strengthened measures to tackle illegal mining and its associated risks, including cross-border cooperation and economic alternatives for vulnerable communities in the region.
