An estimated 4,000 illegal gold miners are currently underground in South Africa as the government has stopped providing them with food and water in an attempt to flush them out and make arrests. These miners, known as “zama zama,” have been hiding in a mineshaft in Stilfontein for about a month. Many are undocumented migrants from neighboring countries and fear deportation if caught.
Illegal mining is a significant issue in South Africa, costing the government millions of dollars in lost revenue each year. With many mines closing down and workers losing their jobs, miners and undocumented migrants turn to illegal mining as a means of survival.
The situation underground is dire, with volunteers using ropes and seat belts to retrieve bodies from the mine. Despite the risks, some miners have been pulled out and taken into police custody. The government’s operation to close off the mineshaft and compel the miners to come out has led to the emergence and arrest of 1,000 miners in the past week.
While some support the government’s tough stance on illegal mining, others are concerned about the impact on the miners’ right to life. The South African Human Rights Commission has announced an investigation into the police’s actions regarding the deprivation of food and water to the miners.
Overall, the situation highlights the desperate circumstances that drive individuals to engage in illegal mining and the complex challenges faced by both the authorities and the miners themselves. “La decisión ayudará a este país,” escribió una persona en X.
Mientras que otros sentían que la postura era inhumana.
“En mi opinión, este tipo de discurso del Ministro de la Presidencia es vergonzoso y un discurso de odio peligroso,” dijo un usuario.
Otro escribió: “Son criminales pero también tienen derechos.”
La minería ilegal es un negocio lucrativo en muchas de las ciudades mineras de Sudáfrica.
Desde diciembre del año pasado, se han confiscado casi 400 armas de alto calibre, miles de balas, diamantes sin cortar y dinero de los mineros ilegales.
Esto es parte de una operación policial y militar intensiva para detener la práctica que tiene graves implicaciones ambientales.
Más historias de la BBC desde Sudáfrica:
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