Final total of 154 zama zamas brought out of illegal mine near Sabie
Most of these captives had been working in the mine as forced labourers.
All the illegal miners, many of whom had been held against their will in an old disused mineshaft near Sabie, South Mine, and forced to mine for gold, are out now, and the extraction operation has come to an end.
Also read: National police commissioner and senior cops to join Sabie zama zama rescue operation
Sources close to this matter said a total of 154 miners were brought up and out. This number, unfortunately, also includes the three bodies that had been brought up earlier this week.
Also read: Zama zama bosses reportedly keep more than 150 as forced labourers in illegal Sabie mine
Today, Friday, December 6, 112 captives were extracted, and 33 were yesterday. Six captives were rescued on Tuesday, December 3.
This all follows the incident earlier that Tuesday in which some law enforcement agencies came across four men in the plantations near the mine, who seemed to be running for their lives.
“The four men revealed that they had been held captive in the mine together with many others, and said over 150 were still down below,” said Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.
They were wet, dirty and haggard, and complained of hunger. The police organised some food for them.
ALSO READ: UPDATE | Number of rescued zama zama captives stands at 33
The first zama zamas to be brought up were checked by the medical emergency team before they were taken into custody.
According the national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, the zama zamas would be processed to establish their current status in the country and be charged if found to be here illegally.
“They will also face charges of mining without a licence. We are, however, aware that some had been working against their will, so we shall take that into consideration,” said Masemola during his visit to the scene on Thursday.
It is believed that most of the miners had been recruited under false pretenses for work as builders, only to be forced at gunpoint to get in the mines and extract gold-bearing rocks.
Most of them told the officials that they were confused and did not even know what date it was. They said they had mostly been kept in the dark for days without food.
Whenever the call of nature came, it was a matter of moving to one side and answering it.
“We were forced to work like slaves and did not have a choice but to continue working or else face being killed by the bosses,” said one of these miners whose name cannot be revealed at this stage.
The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, has confirmed that all the miners were out.
“We can confirm that this is a mission accomplished. The operation has now come to an end,” he said.
