A rescue mission for illegal gold miners trapped deep in underground shafts in South Africa’s North West province began on Monday, ending months of uncertainty about their plight.

Civil rights groups have reported that at least 100 people have died from starvation since October, when authorities restricted access to the shafts at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, located around 156 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, as part of a strategy to force miners to come to the surface by cutting off their food supply.

Read: The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas

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The government initially took a tough stance, indicating it would not assist those involved in illegal activities. Meanwhile, local police were passive as community members near the mine devised a makeshift rope-pulley system to raise individuals from 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) below ground. Some individuals who surfaced from the shafts were arrested but later released.

The precise number of individuals still trapped underground remains unknown, with estimates suggesting at least 1,000 are still isolated from the surface.

“They have gambled with the lives of our brothers,” said Zinzi Tom, whose brother is trapped underground and spearheaded a lawsuit to urge the government to initiate a rescue operation, speaking outside the mine on Monday.

“We have knocked on many doors asking and pleading with the government for help, and the response was that they would smoke them out. They didn’t care whether these people came out alive or not.”

A legal agreement was finalized last week, ensuring the government’s support for the rescue efforts. The Department of Mineral Resources, together with the Minerals Council, an industry association, has partnered to help fund the operation, which is expected to cost around R12 million.

On Monday, heavy machinery and at least eight forensic pathology vans were seen entering the mine area.

Read: Stilfontein’s dangerous and desperate illegal mining industry

The department stated that discussions started in December with the mine owners, who hold a legal responsibility to finance the rescue operation, but they cited financial difficulties.

The issue of illegal mining is not limited to Stilfontein; nationwide, approximately 6,000 abandoned mines exist, many of which have been occupied by informal miners locally known as zama zamas.

According to government estimates, South Africa and its mining sector lose around R70 billion each year due to illegal gold mining activities.

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