South Africa Cuts Food and Water to 4,000 Illegal Miners in Stilfontein Crackdown Amid Humanitarian Concerns
South Africa Cuts Food and Water: South African authorities are taking unprecedented steps to address the surge in illegal gold mining. Approximately 4,000 “zama zama” miners, a term meaning “take a chance” in Zulu, are hiding in underground shafts near Stilfontein, North West province, after the government cut off their access to food and water to force them to surrender. The high-stakes move has sparked both support and controversy, with police, the military, and local residents all drawn into a tense standoff.
These illegal miners, many of whom are undocumented migrants from neighboring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique, have resisted coming above ground, fearing arrest and deportation. Authorities have already apprehended 1,000 miners in recent days and have intensified their efforts to capture the rest by blocking food and water supplies. Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, speaking on behalf of the government, has called for strong action, saying, “We are going to smoke them out…criminals are not to be helped – they are to be persecuted.”
This stringent approach has raised humanitarian concerns. Underground conditions are deteriorating, with no access to essential supplies. Busi Thabane from the Benchmarks Foundation, a South African charity monitoring corporate practices, described the situation as “a humanitarian crisis.” Volunteers from local communities have attempted to support the trapped miners, some even using ropes and seat belts to retrieve bodies from the mine shaft, as the stench of decomposition fills the area. Communication with the miners has been limited, relying on messages written on scraps of paper.
The South African Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation into the deprivation of food and water, citing concerns over potential violations of the miners’ rights to life and humane treatment. Despite the operation’s controversy, dubbed “Vala Umgodi” or “Close the Hole,” some South Africans have voiced support for the government’s hardline stance, believing it is essential to address the dangers and economic impact of illegal mining on the country.
Illegal mining operations in South Africa, particularly in abandoned gold mines, have contributed to the country’s financial losses and environmental degradation. Authorities’ recent crackdown efforts have led to the seizure of nearly 400 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, uncut diamonds, and substantial sums of money, spotlighting the complex, lucrative world of illegal mining.
