The Telegraph
Stilfontein – Clement Moeletsi, a local community member who was rescued after being trapped in abandoned shafts at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, has shared that illegal miners were facing severe hunger during their ordeal.
In an affidavit submitted as part of the Mining Affected Communities United In Action (MACUA) appeal to the Constitutional Court, Moeletsi stated, “It was not an illness that caused their deaths. It was starvation.”
Moeletsi was arrested on December 9, 2024, and later released on R500 bail by the Stilfontein Magistrate’s court on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
In his affidavit, Moeletsi detailed the harrowing experiences he faced underground, along with the specifics of his rescue and arrest.
“I was unable to provide a more detailed account because my legal representatives were denied access to me while I was held at Hartbeespoort Police Station from December 9, 2024, until my release on December 31, 2024,” Moeletsi noted.
He pointed out that this lack of access greatly hindered his ability to communicate and share vital information during that period.
“Now that I have regained my freedom, I can offer a clear and comprehensive account of the events and conditions I encountered, which I believe will significantly aid the Court in grasping the urgency and seriousness of the situation,” Moeletsi stated.
“I accessed Shaft 10 using a rope system.
“This system, operated manually by artisanal miners, required teamwork and considerable physical effort to lower individuals into the shaft.
“Upon arriving at level 6 of Shaft 10, I remained there for about a month until I felt the effects of Operation Vala Umgodi.”
Moeletsi shared the daily challenges experienced underground during this period.
“The environment was stifling, completely lacking natural light, with thick, heavy air,” Moeletsi recounted.
“Before Operation Vala Umgodi was initiated, we depended on assistance from other artisanal miners and community members above ground for food, medications, and other essential supplies.
“Families would send these items, which were then delivered by miners working on the surface to those trapped below.
“Although this system was informal, it was crucial for survival underground. However, in August 2024, all supplies of food and essential items were abruptly cut off for Shaft 10.”
Moeletsi further expressed, “This sudden cessation of supplies took us completely by surprise, and we received no warning or explanation regarding the halt of food, water, medication, and other basic provisions.”
By September 2024, he observed, the desperation for food escalated dramatically.
“People resorted to consuming cockroaches and mixing toothpaste with salt to create makeshift meals, acts driven by sheer deprivation,” Moeletsi recalled.
“The lack of food and safe drinking water left us with no viable means of nourishment.
“From September to October 2024, we faced total deprivation of even basic sustenance, and surviving became a daily battle against starvation.
“Personally, I went without food or drinkable water for nearly six weeks.
“Prolonged starvation left me physically and mentally exhausted, pushing my body to its limits.
“To survive, I resorted to drinking underground water, which had a strong chemical taste.
“While it kept me alive, it came with consequences: I suffered from severe headaches, abdominal pain, and what I suspect were stomach ulcer symptoms due to the water’s contamination.”
Moeletsi claimed that Operation Vala Umgodi, implemented suddenly by the South African Police Service, eliminated any chance of assistance or rescue.
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In his affidavit, Moeletsi conveyed the devastating impact of this situation.
“Starvation set in rapidly, and I watched as those around me weakened each day,” he remarked.
“Their bodies deteriorated, and their health declined quickly.
“Many succumbed to relentless hunger, their emaciated bodies a haunting testimony to the horrors we faced.
“From what I observed, it was not illness that led to deaths underground, but starvation.”
Moeletsi recalled that the air was thick with sickness.
He mentioned that wounds and sores festered, remaining untreated.
“Coughing echoed through the tunnels as individuals became too weak to resist infections,” he stated.
“Skin cracked and split, leaving many vulnerable to infections they could no longer fight off.
“Some, like myself, drank the contaminated underground water to survive, but it brought its own suffering, causing excruciating stomach pain and terrible headaches.
“This is what I witnessed underground: individuals wasting away, their bodies betraying them in a slow, agonizing defeat.”
In a statement released on Saturday, January 4, 2024, MACUA indicated that Moeletsi’s affidavit was included among the documents submitted to strengthen their application at the Constitutional Court to emphasize the growing urgency of the issue.
