South African miner describes horrors for those who spent months underground
Dozens of men sat and lay together in small caves, some so shallow they couldn’t stand up. The air was wet and stuffy, and wracking coughs echoed in the confined space. Bodies wrapped in fabric and twine were set aside in rows nearby.
South Africa criticized for ‘horrific’ mining crackdown after 78 bodies pulled from underground
The clampdown on illegal mining cut off food and water to hundreds of miners underground. At least 78 bodies were pulled from a mining shaft this week, and more are believed to remain underground.
South Africa Mine Rescue Ends, Anger Rises Over 78 Deaths in Police Siege
Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa. Typically, undocumented miners known as zama zamas - from an isiZulu expression for "taking a chance" - move into mines abandoned by commercial miners and seek to extract whatever is left. Some are under the control of violent criminal gangs.
South African miner on 6-month ordeal underground and illicit gold industry
The tragedy at the abandoned gold mine near the town of Stilfontein began to unfold in August, when police cut off food supplies for a period of time to the miners working illegally in the mine's tunnels.
Next Africa: How the South African Mining Tragedy Unfolded
South African rescue workers retrieved 78 bodies from a disused gold mine in Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal extractors have been involved in a months-long standoff with the authorities. Civil rights groups said at least 100 people died from starvation after the mine was sealed off by the security forces to deny those underground access to food to force them to the surface.
Death toll rises to 87 as standoff between police and miners ends in South Africa
Police say the death toll in a monthslong standoff between authorities and miners trapped while working illegally underground at an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has risen to at least 87
Why did 87 miners die trapped underground in South Africa as police tried to force their surrender?
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing calls to order a national inquiry into a police operation that was meant to combat illegal mining but ended up leaving 87 miners to die underground as authorities attempted to force them to surrender during a monthslong standoff.
Why South Africa wants to jail miners trapped underground for months
More than 70 people have reportedly died while trapped in a mine after a monthlong standoff with the South African government over illegal mining. CBS News' Chris Livesay has more.
South African rand firms ahead of Trump inauguration
South Africa's rand strengthened in cautious trade on Friday, as investor focus shifted towards U.S. President-elect Donald ...
Standoff in South Africa ends with 87 miners dead and anger over police ‘smoke them out’ tactics
The miners are suspected to have died of starvation and dehydration, although no causes of death have been released.
South Africa Reaches Huge Milestone In Formula 1 Entry Bid
South Africa is making significant progress in its journey to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix by 2026, by inviting potential host ...
Dozens of Dead Pulled From Illegal South African Gold Mine After Standoff With Authorities
The prospectors were trapped underground for months as police, on orders from South Africa’s government, attempted to starve ...
South Africa tried to pressure informal gold miners by cutting off food. Now it’s pulling out bodies
Rescuers and volunteers have pulled at least 78 dead miners and more than 160 survivors from an abandoned South African gold ...
Rand Drop Won’t Derail South African Inflation Plans, Policymaker Says
A policymaker at South Africa’s central bank downplayed the potential impact of the rand’s recent weakness on inflation, in ...
Video of South African firefighters wrongly linked to LA fires | Fact check
The video is from 2023 and shows a contingent of South African firefighters who traveled to Canada to help fight fires there.