The situation is growing dire at the Stilfontein Mine in North West, where illegal miners claim they are resorting to eating human flesh for survival during this festive season. This alarming detail surfaced from letters sent to the surface, which reveal not only the desperate hunger faced by the miners but also the increasing number of those disappearing from the mine’s shaft 10 as they attempt to escape their perilous circumstances.
The letters, drafted by anonymous miners, serve as pleas for help, stating, "Can we please have food, it is totally finished. Not in a bad way but please provide because the situation is hectic underground. People are always dying and we now don’t know what the issue is. But hunger is one of the reasons," highlighting the dire conditions they are enduring. Weak from lack of nourishment, many miners struggle to support their colleagues trapped underground, exacerbated by the increasing number of sick individuals who need immediate medical attention.
On Christmas Eve, the community responded to these urgent letters by gathering for prayer and solidarity messages for the miners trapped below ground. Organizations like Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) and the Stilfontein Solidarity Committee have actively sought to deliver food supplies to the miners, emphasizing the need for swift governmental rescue efforts. MACUA’s media liaison officer, Sabelo Mnguni, stressed the urgency, urging the government to provide immediate humanitarian aid, stating, "We are not happy with the fact... dying of hunger. We are told... nine people have already died and tomorrow or Friday we are going to start the process of retrieving the bodies."
Activists are vocalizing their disdain for the slow response from authorities, saying it reflects systemic failures within the state. The Pretoria North High Court recently dismissed MACUA's urgent application to compel the government to initiate rescue operations and provide necessary supplies to the miners. Mnguni condemned the ruling, claiming it prioritizes bureaucracy over life-saving measures: "The recent court ruling denying state assistance for humanitarian aid and rescue resources is a moral failure, prioritizing bureaucracy over the lives of marginalized individuals."
The miners, who have been trapped underground since last month, face even graver risks as food supplies dwindle. One of the letters read, "Our parents, it's hard down here. People are dying, they tried to leave through shaft number 10, and they disappeared," speaking to the relentless suffering and treacherous conditions. The miners endure mounting fear of both hunger and collapsing shafts as they remain isolated from the outside world. The psychological toll is evident, with expressions of despair shared among those who have managed to send appeals for food and assistance to their families.
Community members are increasingly frustrated with the lack of support from the government, particularly during this time of year when families would traditionally come together to celebrate. The festive season has become synonymous with despair for these miners, leading to increased calls for government action to assist and rescue them. Mnguni remarked, "While issues of capitalism, inequality, racism, and xenophobia contextualize the Stilfontein tragedy, the immediate priority is rescuing the miners."
During this harrowing time, MACUA is also reaching out to faith-based organizations, appealing for solidarity and support for the trapped miners. The sentiment echoes the broader community's outrage at the systemic failures plaguing not just the miners but the entire mining sector, which has seen increased illegal operations due to lack of oversight and adequate support for the affected communities.
The state’s failure to uphold basic human rights and provide adequate safety measures for those engaging in illegal mining operations leads to stark criticism, particularly during this reflective holiday season. "The miners remain abandoned, dehumanized by reckless actions of mining companies, the state, and Operation Vala Umgodi," Mnguni condemned, drawing attention to the stark reality of many families struggling to find their loved ones lost underground.
Trapped underground with limited food and resources, many illegal miners face the unthinkable choice of survival at the expense of their humanity. "We request food, we have run out of food, please we are humbly begging, people are dying non-stop, we don’t know the cause, we know hunger is the reason we are dying," one miner’s message vividly encapsulated their desperate state. The reality is bleak: without immediate action from the government, the fate of these illegal miners remains uncertain.
With reports of eight more zama zamas surfacing, the community is starting to realize how dire the situation has become for those still under the ground, coupled with fears rising about retrieval operations yielding grim results, as nine miners’ bodies are expected to be recovered shortly. Reports highlight the urgent need to facilitate rescue operations effectively, utilizing every resource available to save lives trapped in the darkness of the mines.
The tragic circumstances faced by the illegal miners not only stir concern for their wellbeing but also highlight significant societal issues. The Stilfontein situation echoes many historical injustices associated with the mining sector, evoking memories of the Marikana massacre years before. It serves as testimony to the need for systemic changes and urgent interventions to safeguard the rights and dignity of all miners, regardless of their status. This year’s Christmas spirit is overshadowed by the dire reality of those who remain trapped, lost, and forsaken below the earth's surface.
