87 Dead in South African Mine After Months-Long Police Standoff

Authorities cut off food supplies to illegal miners in Stilfontein, sparking a humanitarian crisis and raising questions about government accountability.

South African police launched 'Close the Hole,' a crackdown on illegal mining, targeting the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in August 2024.
Miners, known as 'zama zamas,' were trapped underground for months after authorities cut off food and dismantled supply systems to force their surrender.
A court-ordered rescue operation in January 2025 revealed at least 87 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and illness, with over 240 survivors arrested upon surfacing.
The miners, many undocumented migrants from neighboring countries, were drawn to the mine by promises of significant earnings despite its dangers.
Rights groups have criticized the government for using starvation as a tactic and delaying rescue efforts, while officials defend their approach to combatting illegal mining, which costs the economy over $3 billion annually.