Stilfontein – At least 14 suspected illegal miners – one of them a 14-year-old boy – resurfaced overnight at the abandoned mine shaft in Stilfontein, North West.
Police and soldiers have been stationed at the exit points of the shaft waiting to arrest the suspected illegal miners – better known as “Zama Zamas” – when they resurface.
In the dead of the night, shadowy figures stealthy emerged from the belly of the earth, only for some of them to retreat once they saw the police.
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Unconfirmed reports indicate that as many as 4 000 people may be holed up underground, where locals said they stay for months searching for gold.
“They chose to come out late at night, thinking the police are no more standing static,” said national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
“Others ran back into the shaft as soon as they noticed the police presence.”
Police said the suspects – including the 14-year-old boy- who were arrested when they surfaced are all Mozambicans.
Although the police said the suspects remaining underground were not trapped, they said they had been informed that: “There are 10 heavily armed Basotho Nationals who are guarding them and making them dig for gold”.
Brigadier Mathe added: “They claim the food and water that was taken down was all confiscated by these Basotho guards and none of them were allowed to eat or drink.
“They are instead forced to work for the food and water.”
