Six bodies have been pulled from an abandoned mine in the town of Stilfontein in South Africa, where hundreds of clandestine miners are still underground, a community leader told AFP Wednesday.
“Six corpses were recovered over a span of two days, with four found today and two yesterday,” said Johannes Qankase, a representative for the nearby community of Khuma, where the majority of the miners reside.
The derelict gold mines located approximately 150 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, the economic hub, have been surrounded by police for the past month, aiming to remove the “zama zamas” (“those who try” in Zulu) who are illegally operating there.
The exact number of miners still trapped underground remains uncertain. A local individual said he heard about 4,000, although law enforcement estimated the number was likely in the hundreds.
Authorities have been restricting food and water provisions to encourage them to evacuate the mine. Countless “zama zamas,” many coming from neighbouring Mozambique and Lesotho, face harsh conditions to work and reside in South Africa, which is rich in minerals.
Some residents link their presence with increased criminal activity, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has described them as a “menace” to the nation’s economy and safety.
