Naked Zama Zamas resurface at Stilfontein mine while wearing underwear only… minor says survived on toothpaste and salt only

Stilfontein – The grim reality of illegal mining in South Africa has once again been brought to the forefront with the emergence of more zama zamas from abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein.

On Monday morning, four young men, clad only in underwear, were seen near Shaft 10 amidst a heavy police presence. Their appearance followed the emergence of eleven other illegal miners, including teenagers, on Saturday, bringing the total number of those who have resurfaced since August to over 1300.

The harrowing conditions faced by these illegal miners were highlighted by the account of a 19-year-old who emerged from Shaft 10 on Thursday, 28 November, along with two other teenage boys. He described being lured to Stilfontein under the guise of menial mine work, only to find himself trapped underground for six months, forced into mining against his will. "When I saw what they were doing [making youngsters mine], I wanted to leave," he recounted.

He further explained the desperate measures he took to survive: "There are snipers down there. They will beat you if you want to leave."

He ultimately plotted his escape driven by hunger, surviving on nothing more than toothpaste. He was subsequently charged with illegal mining.

Another survivor, Gcina Lepheana, shared his ordeal after emerging from Buffelsfontein mine on 14 November. He described a month of subsisting on water, vinegar, salt, and toothpaste, leaving him weak and depressed. His rescue was a moment of relief, as he described the feeling of seeing a rope lowered into the shaft.

"Lepheana grabbed the rope and with the help of other miners he fastened it around his waist, and members of the community pulled him up," a witness recounted.

Upon his rescue, police confiscated his belongings, leaving him with only his shorts. "I only remained with my shorts on. I had nothing on me. I had no gold on me,” Lepheana stated, detailing the events following his rescue.

Despite receiving medical attention, Lepheana felt far from recovered. “I was put on one drip and thereafter the paramedics told me I was fine. But I was not fine. I had spent the whole of October and part of November with no real food. Food was no longer coming down. I was weak and disorientated,” he explained.

He was released by police without charge, despite his weakened state and the considerable distance he had to walk home. He eventually received a lift from a compassionate motorist.

Lepheana's story sheds light on the stark conditions faced by zama zamas. While he described the initial provision of food such as pap, instant porridge, rice, tinned fish, water and cold drinks, he noted that these supplies eventually dwindled.

“Life underground is fine. We work and eat down there. It is dark where we are. We work mostly with gold,” he said, offering a glimpse into the daily routine and the dangerous nature of their work. However, he admitted to a lack of knowledge regarding the sale of the gold and its price.

Mzwandile Mkwayi, a community member involved in Lepheana's rescue, described the miner's extreme weakness: “I took him out with my own hands. Paramedics could not even take or feel his pulse because he was so weak. He was taken to an ambulance for assistance,” he said, emphasizing the critical condition in which Lepheana was found.

The continued emergence of zama zamas from these mines highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in tackling illegal mining and the desperate circumstances driving individuals to risk their lives in these dangerous conditions.