A decomposed body was retrieved from Shaft 11 of the disused Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein on Monday, marking the second grim discovery in two weeks.
Emergency services assisted community volunteers in retrieving the body after the zama zamas sent distressing notes revealing the presence of more corpses underground.
ALSO READ: Illegal Miners Trapped Underground Plead for ARVs in Note from Stilfontein Mine
Decomposed Body Retrieved from Buffelsfontein Mine
Jan Pretorius, from the Mahlasedi Foundation, which has been supporting the illegal miners with food, described how the community learned of the bodies.
“One of the letters explained that there were six decomposed bodies underground. This morning, when volunteers took the food down the shaft, they brought up one body but only after the emergency services personnel arrived at the scene,” he said.
Decomposed Body Retrieved from Buffelsfontein Mine Amid Illegal Zama Zama Crisis [Image: EWN Reporter]The notes, written in Sesotho and tied to the rope used to deliver food, detailed the miners’ dire circumstances.
One plea read:
“We have one person who is dead because of a shortage of food, while some of the [miners] are lying down and are not responsive. Please take us out of this mine.”
Community leader Mandla Charles said the trapped miners are desperate for help.
“They have asked us to send down the rope to fetch more bodies quickly,” he said.
He also reported that the miners are overwhelmed by the stench and sight of decomposed remains.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the retrieval of the body and an ongoing investigation.
“The police have registered an inquest into the death, and the pathologists were called to the scene,” Mathe said.
She noted that another body was retrieved from the same mine over two weeks ago, with the cause of death still under investigation.
Mixed Sentiments For The Zama Zamas
People on social media reacted to the retrieval of bodies from Buffelsfontein Mine.
Sifiso:
“So there are people feeding them and expect different results in the future.“
Ngamla:
“You are going to be collecting dead bodies everyday .. those who walked out alive must be forced to confess. I have no doubt that the few left in the mine are the sickly and weak or already dead ☠️”
Nigeria Noise:
“SAns, where is your humanity? The illegal miners are humans.“
Qhawe:
“I feel nothing for these criminals.“