Video: 154 captive zama zamas rescued from illegal Sabie mine

All the illegal miners, many of who had been held captive in a disused mineshaft near Sabie, South Mine, and forced to mine for gold, have been rescued, marking the end of the extraction operation.

According to Lowvelder, sources confirmed that 154 miners were brought out, including three bodies recovered earlier this week. Yesterday, 112 captives were extracted, following 33 on Thursday and six on Tuesday.

The rescue operation began after law enforcement encountered four men in the nearby plantations on Tuesday, who appeared to be fleeing 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 Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.

The men, visibly distressed and hungry, were given food by the police.

The first group of rescued zama zamas was assessed by medical teams before being taken into custody. According to national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, the miners will be processed to determine their legal status in the country and face charges for illegal mining where applicable.

“We are, however, aware that some had been working against their will, so we shall take that into consideration,” Masemola said during a visit to the scene on Thursday.

Many miners disclosed that they were lured under false pretences of employment as builders but were instead forced at gunpoint into the mines. They endured appalling conditions, working in darkness without food and subjected to threats of violence if they did not comply.

“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,” one miner said anonymously.

Mdhluli confirmed the mission’s completion. “We can confirm that this is a mission accomplished. The operation has now come to an end,” he said.