Families of Zimbabweans trapped in SA mine cry for help

Ten informal miners, the majority believed to be Zimbabwean nationals, have remained trapped underground for over five months in an abandoned gold mine shaft in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, after rising water cut off their only escape route. The miners' fate remains unknown, as repeated appeals for a coordinated rescue have failed.

The incident occurred on November 22, 2024, when a group of 17 informal miners descended about 50 metres into a disused shaft adjacent to the Amatshe Mine. Within days, an underground stream swelled, blocking their exit. While three miners managed to escape and four others died during failed escape attempts, the remaining ten miners became trapped when a tunnel collapsed.

One of the survivors, Nkosinathi Maisa, who previously worked at Blanket Mine in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, described the harrowing experience to GroundUp. He said the group waited two days for the water to subside, but it only rose further, raising suspicions that it may have been deliberately pumped in.

"We tried to dig an escape route, but the tunnel collapsed and separated the 10 from the rest of us. We never saw them again," said Maisa, who later swam out of the flooded shaft to seek help. He now lives to tell the story, grateful to have reunited with his family.

The families of the trapped miners, including Gezephi Vundla, the mother of 24-year-old Calton Vundla, have been pleading with South African authorities, the Zimbabwean consulate, and civil society groups for assistance. Vundla last saw her son the day he disappeared underground. "All I want is to get him out of that mine," she said.

Despite efforts from Lawyers for Human Rights and informal rescue attempts by other miners, authorities have refused to conduct a formal recovery operation. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and police cited safety concerns, declaring the shaft too dangerous for rescuers or divers.

In December, some informal miners entered the shaft and recovered four bodies, but were unable to reach the area where the other ten are believed to be trapped.

A letter from Lawyers for Human Rights attorney Louise du Plessis to the owners of Amatshe Mine highlighted their legal obligations under the Mine Health and Safety Act, and accused them of failing to act despite alleged water pumping into the shaft. The mine has not responded.

Amatshe Mining CEO Eddie Milne denied involvement, stating that the shaft was historically sealed and accessed illegally. He dismissed allegations that water was pumped into the mine, saying it was "illogical" as most mines struggle to remove water, not add it.

In December 2024, Krugersdorp police discovered three decomposing bodies near the site, each wrapped in plastic with papers containing cellphone numbers. The fourth recovered body was reportedly taken away by family before police arrived.

Despite multiple meetings involving police, the Human Rights Commission, Methodist minister Paul Verryn, and the Zimbabwean consulate, the DMRE has stood firm that the rescue operation is not feasible due to safety risks.

As the months drag on, families continue to grieve in limbo, demanding closure—if not rescue, then the retrieval of remains. "Whether they are alive or not, we must get help to get them out," said Calton's uncle, Thembani Dube.

Efforts to have the Human Rights Commission investigate the matter are ongoing. As of publication, the DMRE had not responded to media inquiries.