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No further illegal miners are believed to be trapped underground at a South African gold mine, according to volunteers aiding rescue operations.
Since Monday, at least 78 bodies have been recovered and over 200 individuals rescued, following a court mandate for the government to facilitate rescue efforts at the site, which has witnessed one of the most significant tragedies in the mining sector.
Authorities indicated that a thorough check would be conducted on Thursday to ensure that no individuals remained trapped, coinciding with the deployment of a rescue cage down the mine.
The situation escalated in November when the government ordered police to detain any miner who emerged from the mine, taking a firm stance against illegal mining activities.
During an on-site visit earlier this week, police and mines ministers faced hostility from a crowd who expressed their anger over the fatalities, directing their blame towards the government.
According to police reports, more than 1,500 miners had surfaced prior to the initiation of rescue operations. However, numerous others remained underground, either out of fear of arrest or coerced by gangs that exert control over the mining operations.
A spokesperson for the South African Police Service commented on the volunteers’ assertion that no miners remained underground, emphasizing, “We will depend on the Mine Rescue Service to verify this with advanced equipment that can provide insights into the underground situation.”
The spokesperson further added, “The Mine Rescue Service has confirmed they will deploy the cage underground in the morning to check if any illegal miners reappear. At this moment, we cannot definitively conclude that the operation has concluded.”
Many mining operations across South Africa have been abandoned in the last thirty years due to a lack of economic viability, leading to their takeover by gangs, often consisting of former workers, who sell the minerals they extract on the black market.
This includes the Stilfontein mine, located approximately 145 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, which serves as a target for government initiatives to combat illegal mining practices.
The rescue efforts have involved a cage making multiple descents into a shaft intended to reach miners believed to be situated as deep as 2 kilometers below the surface.
Survivors have reportedly endured prolonged periods without food and water since November, resulting in severe malnourishment, and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The authorities have indicated that charges will be filed against the miners for illegal mining, trespassing, and violations of immigration laws, as many of those involved are undocumented migrants from neighboring countries.
Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe remarked on Wednesday, “This represents a crime against the economy, an assault on the economy,” as he justified the government’s stringent measures against the miners.
Historically, South Africa has depended on miners from nations such as Lesotho and Mozambique, particularly before the industry’s decline. With unemployment exceeding 30% in South Africa, many former miners report an acute lack of alternative employment opportunities.
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