By Johnathan Paoli
The harrowing conditions faced by illegal miners trapped in abandoned shafts around Stilfontein continues to unfold, as humanitarian aid reaches them amidst reports of deaths, starvation and violence.
Letters from miners trapped at Shaft 11 reveal six fatalities underground, with desperate pleas for basic sanitation and supplies.
They reported sitting with decomposing bodies for weeks.
On Tuesday, emergency medical services confirmed the recovery of a decomposed body, with additional remains expected to surface in food supply bags being sent down and retrieved under a court order.
Following legal intervention by the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macau), the Pretoria High Court granted an urgent interdict compelling authorities to allow aid deliveries.
Supplies such as water, porridge and aloe are being sent underground, with community members mobilising resources to assist.
Judge Nicolene van Nieuwenhuizen’s ruling denounced earlier tactics by the SA Police Service, including withholding food to force miners to surface, as unconstitutional and a violation of international laws against starvation tactics.
Despite the court order, the North West government plans to challenge the decision, arguing that aiding the miners could perpetuate illegal mining activities.
SAPS has also withheld batteries and headlights, leaving the miners in the pitch darkness.
Over 1,200 miners have resurfaced, including 21 on Monday alone.
Macau confirmed that the body of a man has been retrieved by community rescue volunteers, with a letter attached to the bag stating that the resurfacing of the bodies must be done quickly as the bodies are causing a bad smell.
More deaths are anticipated underground as reports indicate widespread weakness and hunger, with miners too frail to make the journey to the surface remaining trapped.
Efforts to deploy heavy machinery for rescues are reportedly constrained by government concerns over the high costs involved.
Macua and Lawyers for Human Rights are heading back to the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday, with executive director Christopher Rutledge previously telling Inside Politics that they were confident that their application would be successful as they were presenting facts and new evidence.
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