Bulelwa Hoala

Two survivors of illegal mining in Stilfontein, North West, have shared gruesome details of the disturbing scenes they witnessed while trapped underground.
The pair voluntarily went down in July last year and emerged from underground last month after spending 18 days without food.
Speaking exclusively to Kaya News, the zama zamas said they physically saw fellow illegal miners dying from starvation and others eating human flesh to survive.
The duo detailed seeing their colleagues cut flesh from dead bodies and cooking it.
They further alleged that many bodies were left hanging on metals underground at shaft 10 and that some of the corpses are now skeletons.
Meanwhile, a group of suspected illegal mine kingpins are expected to make their first appearance in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court alongside 109 alleged illegal miners on Friday.
They were arrested during the government-led Stilfontein Rescue Operation which took place between Monday and Wednesday this week.
A cage was used to retrieve corpses and surviving miners from the shafts.
Watch the video below:
The opportunity to get a closer look at the machinery and cage that was used in the mine rescue operation.
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) January 16, 2025
The special cage was sent down with cameras to check the shaft.
It returned empty.
📍Shaft 11, Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stillfontein, North West (South Africa)
NM… pic.twitter.com/jmM4o4l0HX
A total of 78 bodies and 264 surviving miners were retrieved during the rescue operation which was concluded yesterday.
This follows the establishment of the controversial Operation Vala Umgodi by the South African Police Services (SAPS) in August 2024 in order to shut down illegal mining in the North West by cutting off food, water and medical supplies.
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