Fourteen illegal miners (Zama Zamas) resurface from Stilfontein Mine including a 14-year-old foreign boy… "It's tough down there"

Fourteen illegal miners have emerged from an abandoned gold mine shaft in Stilfontein, North West, following a series of revelations about their situation underground. The resurfacing, which took place on Sunday night, has highlighted the dangerous conditions faced by these miners, often referred to as zama zamas.

CelebGossip.co.za understands that all the fourteen Zama Zamas are from Mozambique and most of them were recruited from Johannesburg.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, “Eleven illegal miners just got out at Shaft 10, which is linked to Shaft 11, proving that they are not trapped—they just refuse to resurface. They chose to come out late at night, thinking police are no more standing static.” She noted that some miners immediately ran back into the shaft upon seeing police presence, indicating a deep fear of law enforcement.

Mathe later confirmed that among those who resurfaced was an illegal 14-year-old foreign boy from Mozambique, shedding light on the involvement of minors in these perilous activities.

“They have confirmed what police have always been saying, that firstly there is no one trapped, and that there are ten heavily armed Basotho nationals who are guarding them and making them dig for gold,” she stated.

These guards are reportedly confiscating food and water supplies, forcing the miners to work for their basic needs.

The ongoing conflict between the police and illegal miners escalated when authorities blocked supplies of food and water to the shafts, prompting many to surface in search of sustenance. As part of Operation Vala Umgodi, police have intensified their efforts to curb illegal mining activities, resulting in over 1,239 illegal miners resurfacing in recent weeks.

Newzroom Afrika conducted interviews with some of the miners as they were being detained by police. One miner shared his harrowing experience, stating he had been underground since July 20.

“I was approached in Diepsloot and told there’s work for us here. I headed underground but the food ran out soon after my arrival and there was no money coming my way. I managed to escape and I'm grateful to the police for helping us,” he said.

His relief was palpable, but he expressed concern for those still trapped below. “I hope they can also help others who are down there and facing hunger. There’s no food down there and people are being beaten. It’s tough down there.”

Another miner recounted his harrowing journey from Soweto, where he was coerced at gunpoint into joining the ranks of zama zamas underground. He revealed that supplies sent down in recent weeks had not reached most of the group, instead being seized by armed overseers.

“They ration the supplies sent down and give us a cup of Mageu [fermented maize meal drink] each per day,” he explained, painting a grim picture of life underground.

The police have consistently maintained that the miners are not trapped but are choosing not to resurface to avoid arrest. This stance was reinforced by a recent ruling from the Pretoria High Court, which dismissed an application from the Society for the Protection of our Constitution. This society sought to allow humanitarian aid and non-emergency personnel to descend into the 2km-deep shaft to assist the miners.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded firmly, asserting, “SAPS remains adamant there is no illegal miner trapped underground and that they simply refuse to resurface because they are avoiding arrest.”

The situation has become increasingly complex, with police and soldiers having started to block food, water, and other essentials to the illegal miners in mid-October. This strategy aims to force the miners to leave the shafts voluntarily, a tactic that has provoked backlash and raised concerns about the welfare of those still underground.