Why did 87 miners die trapped underground in South Africa as police tried to force their surrender?
South Africa's president is facing calls to order an inquiry into a police operation that was meant to combat illegal mining but ended up leaving 87 miners to die underground as authorities attempted to force them to surrender during a monthslong standoff.
South Africa criticized for ‘horrific’ mining crackdown after 78 bodies pulled from underground
The clampdown on illegal mining cut off food and water to hundreds of miners underground. At least 78 bodies were pulled from a mining shaft this week, and more are believed to remain underground.
South Africa Mine Rescue Ends, Anger Rises Over 78 Deaths in Police Siege
Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa. Typically, undocumented miners known as zama zamas - from an isiZulu expression for "taking a chance" - move into mines abandoned by commercial miners and seek to extract whatever is left. Some are under the control of violent criminal gangs.
South African miner on 6-month ordeal underground and illicit gold industry
The tragedy at the abandoned gold mine near the town of Stilfontein began to unfold in August, when police cut off food supplies for a period of time to the miners working illegally in the mine's tunnels.
Dozens of Dead Pulled From Illegal South African Gold Mine After Standoff With Authorities
The prospectors were trapped underground for months as police, on orders from South Africa’s government, attempted to starve them out.
Death toll rises to 87 as standoff between police and miners ends in South Africa
Police say the death toll in a monthslong standoff between authorities and miners trapped while working illegally underground at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has risen to at least 87
South African miner describes horrors for those who spent months underground
Dozens of men sat and lay together in small caves, some so shallow they couldn’t stand up. The air was wet and stuffy, and wracking coughs echoed in the confined space. Bodies wrapped in fabric and twine were set aside in rows nearby.
A South African horror story: illegal mining stand-off draws to an end
In South Africa a months long stand-off between police and illegal miners in an abandoned gold mine comes to end, with close to 80 found dead in grim recovery operation.
Next Africa: How the South African Mining Tragedy Unfolded
South African rescue workers retrieved 78 bodies from a disused gold mine in Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal extractors have been involved in a months-long standoff with the authorities. Civil rights groups said at least 100 people died from starvation after the mine was sealed off by the security forces to deny those underground access to food to force them to the surface.
Why hundreds of miners are still trapped and feared starving in an abandoned South Africa mine
South African authorities have come under intense scrutiny for their response after civic groups said hundreds of miners have been trapped deep in an abandoned gold mine for months.
The rise of illegal gold mining in Africa
In South Africa, a months-long standoff between police and illegal gold miners has resulted in over 100 deaths. This surge in illegal gold mining has highlighted the growing dangers of the industry. Zinhle Essamuah traveled to West Africa to explore the forces driving the dark side of the gold rush.
South Africa in 2025: 8 key factors that will shape the future and test the government
Poor governance and incompetence plague South Africa’s public administration, particularly at the local level.
Video of South African firefighters wrongly linked to LA fires | Fact check
The video is from 2023 and shows a contingent of South African firefighters who traveled to Canada to help fight fires there.
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