At least 100 illegal miners perish trapped underground in South Africa
- At least 100 illegal miners died after being trapped deep underground in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa.
- Authorities had attempted to force the miners out since November, cutting off their supplies to pressure them.
- The situation highlights the dire circumstances surrounding illegal mining and calls for a reevaluation of government policy.
In late November 2024, a high-stakes standoff began in South Africa's Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, where authorities attempted to forcibly evict illegal miners. These miners, numbering in the hundreds, had entered the abandoned mine to seek gold after it had been closed by mining companies. Over time, the situation escalated as the police cut off access to food and water in an effort to 'smoke out' the miners, leading them into a state of desperation. Informal miners often stay underground for extended periods, relying on supplies sent down from the surface, but the severing of these lifelines proved catastrophic. Reports indicate that by January 2025, at least 100 of these miners had died due to starvation and dehydration, according to Sabelo Mnguni of the Mining Affected Communities United in Action Group. Videos sent from the mine showed emaciated individuals amidst the deceased, stricken by hunger.