The death toll in South Africa’s Buffelsfontein Gold Mine disaster has risen to 87, police said Thursday, amid mounting criticism of authorities’ handling of the illegal mining crisis.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that 78 bodies were recovered during a three-day rescue operation ordered by the courts. An additional nine bodies had been retrieved earlier, while 246 survivors, including 13 children, were pulled from the mine.
The tragedy has drawn sharp criticism over the government’s initial refusal to assist the miners, many of whom are undocumented migrants. Authorities reportedly cut off food and dismantled supply systems last year to “smoke them out.”
“This is a disgrace for a constitutional democracy like ours,” said Johannes Qankase, a local community leader. “If the police had acted earlier, we would not be in this situation.”
The Democratic Alliance party has called for an independent inquiry to hold officials accountable, stating, “The scale of the disaster underground is as bad as feared.”
Police said the miners, known as “zama zamas,” were part of illegal operations often linked to criminal syndicates. The survivors, many emaciated, have been arrested.
The tragedy highlights South Africa’s ongoing struggle with illegal mining, which costs the economy over $1 billion annually.