A South African court has directed the police to end their blockade of a disused goldmine in Stilfontein, located about 90 miles southwest of Johannesburg, where hundreds of illegal miners have been trapped for a month. Authorities had previously blocked food and water supplies to pressure the miners into emerging.
Many miners fear arrest or deportation, as some are undocumented migrants. The police indicated they will continue to detain those who resurface.
The court’s ruling, issued in Pretoria, mandates that no party—government or private—should restrict access to the mine or prevent exits, though only emergency personnel may enter. Attorney Yasmin Omar, who facilitated the legal action, stated that the temporary order allows critical relief to reach those underground.
Over the past days, volunteers assisting the miners reported desperate conditions, with some relying on toothpaste and vinegar for sustenance. A body was retrieved from the site last Thursday, underscoring the severity of the crisis. Police are assessing the mine’s structural safety to decide on possible evacuation efforts.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) acknowledged the court’s order but maintained that arrests would proceed. Medical checks will continue for those who resurface, with healthy individuals detained and others receiving hospital care under guard. By Saturday afternoon, three miners had come out, adding to over 1,000 who have already been arrested.
South Africa’s mining sector, though historically rich, has seen closures and job losses, driving a rise in illegal mining that costs the government hundreds of millions annually. The risky practice often involves miners staying underground for months, creating a sub-economy supplying food and essentials, sometimes linked to criminal organizations.
The Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation into the police’s handling of the blockade, amid concerns it could have violated the miners’ right to life.