More than 150 people rescued from abandoned gold mine
Over 150 illegal miners were rescued from an abandoned mine in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province.
Police reported that three bodies were recovered earlier this week on the first day of the rescue operation.
Many of the rescued miners, mostly foreign nationals, claimed they were coerced into working underground in search of gold.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the miners have been arrested, and investigations into illegal mining activities in the area are ongoing.
Earlier this week, national police head Fannie Masemola confirmed that officers are also looking into “allegations of human trafficking and forced labor” linked to these mining operations.
On Friday night, the last miner to emerge from the abandoned shaft blew a whistle as he was greeted by army officers. Although exhausted, he expressed visible relief after being rescued.
A police spokesperson confirmed the rescue operation at the Mpumalanga mine is now complete, though investigations will continue before the site is shut down.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts are still under way at another abandoned mine in Stilfontein, south-west of Johannesburg.
Authorities plan to deploy more equipment on Monday to assist with removing those still trapped underground.
Illegal mining is widespread across South Africa, costing the economy millions in lost revenue.
Gen Masemola has described Mpumalanga as a hotspot for such activities.
