More than 4 500 zama zamas have been trapped underground at a mine in Stilfontein, North West for some time now.
They’ve been trapped underground for three months with no food and water. This happened after the police started their operation, Vala Umgodi.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Thandeka Tom (31) said that her 38-year-old brother is among those trapped underground.
She said that hunger and poverty drove the young people of the Khuma community into illegal mining.
Thandeka said it’s not a shock that her brother is among those trapped as he’s a renowned gangster in the community, who used to be beaten by the residents for stealing.
“He left his gangster ways and ventured into illegal mining. He became a very decent man. As much as this is illegal, it helped him to be a better man,” she said.
While the government has made it clear that they won’t be assisting the trapped zama zamas, residents have taken it upon themselves to go inside the shafts in an effort to assist and rescue those underground.
On Thursday, 14 November, the self-appointed rescuers managed to rescue two people but unfortunately, one was already dead.
“We rescued one critical person and the other was dead. We want our blood relatives rescued. My brother is on chronic medication.”
“The day we started the operation, we received confirmation that there are bodies inside, and those who are alive are very weak,” said Thandeka.
She said they were allowed to send food to their family members who are still trapped, and, on that day, they rescued five people.
Though she hasn’t heard any word about her brother, whether he is still alive or not, Thandeka remains hopeful that he’ll come back alive.
“If he’s dead, it will make me happy to at least get his remains so that we can bury him.”
A resident said that they’re sad because their brothers are trapped underground.
“We are shocked and disappointed that the government is not willing to assist, but when they want to be in power, they act as if they care about us.”
“But when we need them, they don’t care. It’s heartbreaking to hear someone in power say that ‘we will smoke them out’,” said the resident.
