Just a day after the rescue operation at Stilfontein’s abandoned Buffelsfontein Gold Mine was officially called off, a growing number of concerned residents have raised serious alarms, insisting that more bodies of illegal miners, known as zama zamas, remain trapped deep underground, specifically at Shaft 10. This development comes after a harrowing few days during which rescue teams had worked tirelessly in dangerous and precarious conditions, trying to recover the remains of the miners who had become trapped when the mine, which had long since ceased its legal mining operations, collapsed. While the search was eventually called off due to safety concerns and the failure to find any more survivors, the local community remains unconvinced that the operation was thorough enough, or that all those who were underground at the time of the collapse have been accounted for.
The zama zamas—a term used to refer to the illegal miners who risk their lives in search of gold in abandoned mines—have become a tragic yet common fixture in South Africa’s mining landscape. These miners, often desperate for work and with little regard for the law or their safety, venture into old and unsafe mine shafts, where they use rudimentary tools to extract gold. The collapse at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine is just one example of the many dangers that these miners face on a daily basis. With no formal safety equipment, and in many cases no formal training, they are left vulnerable to the kind of disasters that led to the tragic incident at the Buffelsfontein site.
Residents in the area, many of whom have witnessed the ongoing issue of illegal mining in their communities, are demanding that authorities resume the search efforts, particularly at Shaft 10, which they believe holds the bodies of more zama zamas. Their concerns stem from a combination of firsthand accounts from local workers and miners who were either involved in the operation or have knowledge of the mine’s layout and the extent of the collapse. There are reports suggesting that, before the rescue operation ended, multiple sources claimed that the miners working in that section of the shaft were unaccounted for, and it remains unclear whether or not their bodies have been retrieved.
The frustrations of the community are not solely based on a desire for the closure of the tragedy but are also tied to the deeper, more complicated issue of illegal mining in the region. The zama zama problem has plagued South Africa for years, and it reflects the broader economic challenges the country faces. Many individuals turn to illegal mining as a means of survival, particularly in economically distressed areas where job opportunities are few and far between. The practice often attracts marginalized groups, with many zama zamas being young men looking for a source of income in areas where unemployment rates are high. The Buffelsfontein disaster highlights the dangers associated with such risky occupations, underscoring the desperate lengths to which people will go to earn a living in the face of severe poverty.
However, the situation also brings attention to the complex relationship between illegal mining and abandoned mining operations in South Africa. Numerous mines that were once at the forefront of the country’s gold production have been left dormant after their owners either shut down operations or faced financial ruin. These abandoned mines, some of which are poorly maintained, often serve as hotspots for illegal mining activities. As a result, there is a growing call for better regulation of these derelict sites, as well as stronger enforcement of laws to prevent unauthorized access. Without proper oversight, these mines can become death traps for the very people they once provided work for.
The calls for continued search efforts at Buffelsfontein come at a time when authorities are under increasing pressure to address the issue of illegal mining more comprehensively. While the government has made efforts to tackle the problem, residents and advocacy groups argue that these efforts have been insufficient and ineffective, with many zama zamas continuing to risk their lives in the mines. There are also concerns that the local community, in some cases, may feel compelled to participate or turn a blind eye to illegal mining due to the lack of viable alternatives for earning a living.
As the situation unfolds, the authorities are tasked not only with investigating the immediate aftermath of the collapse but also with considering the broader implications of illegal mining in South Africa. Whether or not the search at Shaft 10 is resumed, it is clear that the issue of abandoned mines and illegal mining will continue to present significant challenges for the country moving forward.
“Residents Demand Resumption of Search at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine Amid Fears of More Bodies Trapped Underground”
-
