The tragedy at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in South Africa on 16th January,2025 rescue of 246 illegal miners and 78 to 87 dead bodies, has exposed the deeply rooted issue of poverty, policy failure, and human rights violations these conditions have led to entrapment and in some cases, the death of hundreds of illegal miners, also called zama zamas, has now drawn global attention not only for its human toll but also for the underlying crisis at hand, it represents. Accounts of cannibalism and prolonged deprivation underground, the incident stands as an indication of the South African state’s inability to hold the fundamental dignity and safety of its most vulnerable populations.
Illegal mining has become a desperate lifeline for tens of thousands in South Africa. Driven by an unemployment rate of around 34% in 2024, many rural South Africans have turned to risky, unregulated mining in abandoned shafts, hoping to earn a living. These miners face dire risks, known as zama zamas, a Zulu term meaning “those who take a chance”. Often operated under the control of organised crime syndicates, they are vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and fatal accidents.
According to the Chamber of Mines, illegal mining costs the country almost 20 billion annually. Between 2012 and 2016, 34 tons of illegally mined gold were smuggled out of South Africa, mainly to Dubai, underlining the transnational dimensions of this shadow economy. Despite efforts to curb the trade, the lack of systemic alternatives for economic survival continues to push thousands into this risky occupation.
The Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, located near Stilfontein in the North-West province, once symbolised South Africa’s gold boom. Established in 1942, it produced over 71 million ounces of gold before being abandoned due to declining profitability. Recently, the site has become a hotbed for illegal mining activity.
In August 2024, the South African government initiated Operation Vala Umgodi to clamp down on illegal mining. This crackdown, however, quickly spiralled into a humanitarian crisis. Police employed controversial tactics, including cutting off food and water to miners underground, effectively turning the operation into a siege. When rescue efforts began in earnest only months later, prompted by a court order, the delay had already cost scores of lives.
By January 2025, Mine Rescue Services (MRS) had rescued 246 miners. Yet by March 2025, reports suggested that over 700 individuals may still be trapped in the subterranean puzzles of tunnels. Despite mounting public pressure, the government’s response has been marked by a lack of urgency and accountability.
The testimonies of survivors gave a picture of horrifying endurance. Including consuming cockroaches, drinking contaminated water, and in some cases, cannibalism. Such claims, contested by survivors, reflect the psychological disintegration and desperation caused by prolonged entrapment.
Reported video footage has shown survivors and corpses wrapped in plastic, evidence that is difficult to authenticate but impossible to ignore. These stories underscore the trauma faced by the miners and raise critical questions about the South African government’s ethical obligations during the crisis.
When Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe stated that “miners go to the mine at their own risk,” human rights organisations and other unions condemned the remarks as a gross abdication of state responsibility. This sentiment, critics argue, directly violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines the right to life, dignity, and humane treatment.
The Buffelsfontein tragedy is not merely an unfortunate event—it is the culmination of decades of policy neglect, economic exclusion, and criminalisation of the poor. A genuine solution requires a multi-dimensional strategy:
Local communities must be educated on the risks of illegal mining while being provided with vocational training, jobs, and business opportunities that offer a dignified alternative. Disused mine shafts should be sealed securely and monitored regularly to prevent unauthorised entry and environmental hazards. Tackling systemic poverty and unemployment in mining regions through targeted welfare schemes and infrastructure investment can reduce reliance on illegal mining. Government responses must prioritise the protection of human life. This includes timely rescues, ethical crisis management, and policy decisions guided by humanitarian principles. By offering legal frameworks and licenses for small-scale mining, the government can pull zama zamas into formal systems that ensure safety and taxation while dismantling criminal networks.
Learning from Tragedy
The Buffelsfontein incident should serve as a national reckoning because, to this day, nothing has been implemented to take care of this situation. The miners were not merely victims of a collapsed tunnel but of a broken system that left them with no safer option. If South Africa is to avoid repeating such tragedies, it must view this crisis not through the lens of criminal justice, but as a fundamental failure of economic and human development. Justice for the victims must go beyond rescue—it must include reform. Only through a balanced, rights-based, and development-oriented approach can South Africa address the complex layers of illegal mining and restore dignity to those left behind in the dark.
Authors
Akshita Malik, Research Scholar, Dept. of International Relations, Peace, and Public Policy, St. Joseph’s University (SJU), Bengaluru, India. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9722-4265.
Dr. Karamala Areesh Kumar, Head, Dept. of International Relations, Peace, and Public Policy (IRP and PP), St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, India. Email: [email protected] | [email protected]. ORCID: 0000-0002-3908-071X. Scopus ID: 57653964500.
