Stilfontein Illegal Mining Rescue: Only 26 South Africans Among Nearly 2,000 Survivors

Only 26 South Africans were among the 1,905 illegal miners, or zama zamas, who resurfaced alive from the Stilfontein mining operations, which have been under intense scrutiny due to hazardous conditions.

SAPS national spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe confirmed that their operation at Buffelsfontein Shaft 11, which began on Monday, led to the retrieval of 246 individuals and 78 bodies.

Breakdown of Nationalities at Buffelsfontein Shaft 11

• Mozambicans: 128
• Basotho: 80
• Zimbabweans: 33
• South Africans: 5

Between August 18, 2024, and Wednesday, a total of 1,905 zama zamas emerged alive from various shafts in Stilfontein, which included the following:

• Margaret Shaft: 1,437 survivors
• Buffelsfontein Shaft 11: 365 survivors
• Buffelsfontein Shaft 10: 103 survivors

Nationalities Across All Sites

The majority of survivors were Mozambican nationals, totalling 1,125, followed by 465 Zimbabweans and 200 Basotho. Only 26 South Africans were among the survivors, along with one Malawian and one Congolese national.

In total, 87 bodies have been recovered from the rescue and recovery operations.

Brig Mathe added, “Of the illicit miners arrested, nine are still hospitalised under police guard.”

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