Zama zama lifted from Stilfontein gold mine dies in hospital

An illegal miner lifted from an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has died in hospital, health officials said, raising the toll from the site to 88 since last August.

He “was part of a cohort of 33 illegal miners admitted at the hospital, under police guard” after resurfacing from a shaft in Stilfontein, about 140km southwest of Johannesburg last week, South Africa’s health ministry said on Monday.

He was suffering from gastroenteritis and dehydration.

A total of 1 907 clandestine miners were arrested after resurfacing from the shaft following a police standoff at the site, which culminated in a rescue effort last week to retrieve the remaining miners – dozens of whom had died.

The 32 miners in hospital are being closely watched by both doctors as well as the police, the health ministry said.

It comes after police announced a manhunt on Monday for an alleged “kingpin” behind the illegal mining activity in Stilfontein after having escaped custody with the help from “officials”.

Locally known as “zama zamas” – “those who try” in the Zulu language – the miners frustrate mining companies and are accused of criminality by residents.

Could the Stilfontein tragedy have been averted?

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