Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
A South African bishop has shared harrowing details of the rescue and recovery operation at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa.
“We witnessed bodies being lifted from the shafts, some unrecognizable. Even from 100 meters away, the stench of death was overwhelming,” said Bishop Victor Phalana, acting chairman of the South African Council of Churches.
Bishop Phalana described the heartbreaking condition of the survivors. “Many of the rescued were clinging to life, some as young as 13, emerging emaciated and frail,” he said in a statement.
A Tragedy Underground
The disaster unfolded after hundreds of illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas” (Zulu for “those who take a chance”), became trapped in one of the country’s deepest mines. South African police confirmed at least 78 deaths and rescued 246 individuals, ending their operation on January 19.
The crisis began when authorities launched “Vala Umgodi” (“close the hole”) in November, an effort to seal off illegal mining operations. Initially, officials claimed miners were refusing to surface for fear of arrest. However, activists and trade unions later accused the government of withholding food and water, leaving the miners too weak to climb the nearly two-mile shaft to safety.
Public outcry led to a shift in strategy, and a rescue operation was launched. Rescuers successfully brought all reachable miners, dead or alive, to the surface—except for those in Shaft 10, where access remains impossible.
Church Response and Community Efforts
The South African Council of Churches, which includes the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Southern Africa, welcomed the rescue effort. “The speed of this life-saving operation has lifted a part of the dark cloud that has hung over Stilfontein since October 2024,” read a statement from Bishop Phalana, who also serves as President of the Council and Bishop of Klerksdorp.
The bishop commended civil society organizations and humanitarian partners for their relentless support of the miners and their families, including legal actions that pushed for rescue operations.
Calls for Accountability
Bishop Phalana expressed relief that the rescue teams managed to avoid further loss of life during the extraction process. However, he emphasized the need for accountability and a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.
“This tragedy must prompt an inquiry into how these illegal mining operations began, who profits from them, and the impact they have on local communities, particularly regarding gender-based violence and exploitation,” he said.
The bishop also criticized mine owners for abandoning sites in unsafe conditions and called on the government to reflect on its initial response.
Unthinkable Living Conditions
Surviving miners shared grim accounts of their ordeal, including allegations of cannibalism as a last resort for survival. Bishop Phalana questioned the nation’s moral compass: “Has our humanity been so deeply eroded that we would rather deny illegal miners the right to life than provide them with basic necessities like food and water?”
He urged the government to find a way to access Shaft 10 and complete the retrieval operation. “This is a matter of respecting life and demonstrating love for all mankind,” he said.
A Call for National Reflection
Bishop Phalana described the incident as a monumental failure. “One of the sacred tasks of any government, especially ours—born from the ruins of apartheid and built on constitutional values—is to protect life. In this instance, the government failed hundreds of lives,” he stated.
He concluded by calling for introspection and action: “As a people, we are called by God to protect and respect life. Let this tragedy spur us to ensure such a failure never happens again.”
___