
On Monday, the formal rescue operation commenced to retrieve miners from an abandoned mineshaft in Stilfontein. Two individuals, clad in protective gear, entered a metal cage designed for deep descent underground. Due to high risks involved, no police or rescue personnel accompanied them. Taking on this essential mission were Mandla Charles and Mzwandile Mkwayi, both residents of Khuma, a neighboring township. They have been part of the local leadership group advocating for the miners’ rescue since October 2024, and they were unprepared for what lay ahead.

Mzwandile Mkwayi (left) with Mandla Charles, the two community volunteers who entered the mineshaft to aid in the rescue.
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“The past few months have been incredibly challenging for everyone in the Khuma community,” expressed Charles. “From the beginning, families of the miners approached us as community leaders, asking, ‘Is my father alive? Is my son alive?’ We had no answers. So when the opportunity to help arose, we seized it, as this matter holds profound importance for us.”
As the cage descended to a depth of 1,280 meters, Charles and Mkwayi encountered chilling scenes. They found countless emaciated miners, some barely alive, alongside many deceased bodies.
“The odor of death filled the air,” Charles recounted. “When those miners saw us, they believed we were their rescuers; they could hardly trust their eyes. I think many had resigned themselves to the thought of dying down there.”
“We reminded each other to show strength and courage, despite the dire circumstances below,” Mkwayi shared. “We understood that we had to be resilient for the miners who counted on us.”
The most at-risk individuals were brought up first for urgent medical care. Charles and Mkwayi stayed in the shaft to coordinate the operations, returning to the surface only at the end of each day.
After three days, they, alongside the surface team, managed to rescue 246 miners and recover 78 bodies.

Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie speaks with a colleague as they deploy the rescue cage equipped with cameras and audio gear to detect signs of life.
Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie reported that by late Wednesday, community volunteers indicated there were no survivors left in the shaft.
On Thursday, an empty cage was filled with water and equipped with audio and visual technology and sent down to search for any remaining signs of life.
“We were conducting the rescue mission at a depth of 1,280 meters, but today we sent the cage over 2,000 meters until we hit water. The camera and audio devices have not picked up anything, so for now, we are halting the rescue operation,” stated Fourie.
Acting North West Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng spoke to the media gathered outside the shaft.
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“Whether anyone can be held responsible for the fatalities is a question for the courts,” he commented.
Police operations will continue, with an ongoing police presence in the vicinity. Discussions with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will be initiated to find solutions regarding abandoned mines.
“What I witnessed in there will remain etched in my mind,” Mkwayi reflected.
“I might consider seeking trauma counseling, but I will never forget that experience,” he added.
One of the miners rescued by Mkwayi expressed gratitude by giving him his mining helmet upon reaching the surface.
“He mentioned that he had nothing else to offer but asked me to accept his helmet as a token of appreciation. I will cherish that helmet forever. I plan to display it in my home, and when I’m older, I’ll share this story with my grandchildren,” Mkwayi remarked.

Workers from Mines Rescue Services on site near the mineshaft await the cage’s return.
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