South African authorities are engaged in a standoff with up to 4,000 illegal miners, known as “zama-zamas,” trapped underground in an abandoned gold mine in North West province. The miners, cut off from food and water supplies as part of a strategy to force them out, are believed to be suffering from hunger and dehydration after police sealed off the entrances used for resupplying them.
The operation, part of the Vala Umgodi (Close the Hole) initiative, aims to arrest illegal miners. In recent weeks, over 1,000 miners have emerged, many weak and sick, and a decomposed body was discovered. The government has refused to assist the miners, labeling them criminals.
Police estimate that up to 4,000 miners could still be underground, though mining security analysts suggest around 2,000 is more realistic. Illegal mining has long been a problem in South Africa, with miners often coming from neighboring countries and working for larger syndicates. The practice has led to crime and tensions in surrounding communities.
In response to the crisis, the government has deployed soldiers and made thousands of arrests in recent months. Illegal mining has cost South Africa billions in lost revenue, according to the Minerals Council South Africa.
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