'I came out of the shaft yesterday, narrowly escaping death' - resurfaced miner speaks out

Three illegal miners have been rushed to hospital after being brought up to the surface at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, North West.
The three men are the latest to resurface from a group of illegal miners - thought to be in the hundreds - at a disused mine shaft.
#illegalmining #mining #stilfontein

[@underdog209]

Media’s double standards are disgraceful! They should all be ashamed.

[@fitzgrant4404]

When the European came to Africa to take it minerals it was ok for the African to go and dig for their diamonds and gold but whenit come to the African to dig for himself its against the law.. these African leaders are out of order... 💯 %....

[@psychoejunior9956]

These ppl will do anything to put dirt on South Africans

[@louisamaduna]

You can't go underground by yourself and hold government accountable for your negligence.

[@montaguable]

Can you go out on the ocean and expect the government to rescue you if you got into trouble ?

[@kyslasher6830]

​​@@montaguable of course the government should help because its not illegal to be in the ocean. But it's 100% illegal to be in an abandoned mine. Especially when you're mining it without a permit

[@selisagaba1874]

What you are saying is painfully stupid. Hold your peace and say nothing rather.

[@biko8229]

@@kyslasher6830 Which rock do you live under? Illegal immigrants are saved by governments off the coasts of Greece, Italy etc. Who gave permits to the colonial thieves in the 1800s? Stop this non+sense of taking black life cheap.

[@jameskillu9171]

ANC government cant starve people underground

[@chellinahgirlymhlanga6025]

The same guy that was rescued yesterday spoke on national tv and said that once the police leave that area he is going back underground to illegally mine and then when he get stuck the medical team must risk their lives and go underground inorder to rescue him?cha kudlaliwe ngathi,let those who benefit from zamazamas go underground and rescue them.

[@AlettaMokonemokone]

true, let them go underground

[@preciousmaphalala4708]

True true true!!❤

[@ruthmay8446]

“Government must be held accountable?” How about criminals must be held accountable?

[@MphoNtema-g7r]

Iyoo Government being held ACCOUNTABLE? Did the government send them down there?

[@malungisamaseko3155]

"illegal mining" should mean something

[@Mmathapelo-m7d]

This criminals are taking chance, government must draw a line between criminal rights and human rights because this fuels lawlessness, Innocent citizens were killed and raped the zama zamas people who are making a lot of noise today were quite. Our justice system must also be called to order for not balancing, otherwise south africa will be ruled by criminals.

[@businona2200]

This guy need to arrested himself , he a illegal miner too

[@Lepototo195]

DA must be held accountable.

[@homonaledi640]

"Resurfaced ILLEGAL miner"

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

😅😅😅😅and doing interviews, not being arrested. Nice to be a criminal in South Africa

[@bernardoc8254]

Again we seem to care about criminals as of they're victims. The media is a failure in certain aspects

[@lwandomashalaba3461]

and our constitution protects criminals

[@fitzgrant4404]

When the European came to Africa to take it minerals it was ok for the African to go and dig for their diamonds and gold but whenit come to the African to dig for himself its against the law.. these African leaders are out of order... 💯 %....

[@Born_A_Star]

Why isn't he in handcuffs 😮

[@jameskillu9171]

working hard to feed himself and his family is not a crime

[@ashlouw5350]

​@@jameskillu9171when you break in a dangerous sealed mine shafts to steal is called work now? When someone breaks into house and steals all your items that you legal obtained to feed his family, would that also be called working? People are trying very hard to make stealing morally right when you know its wrong..

[@nomawethumqina3270]

Bophani izinja

[@Professor_Stark]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@jameskillu9171 Is the idea that hijacking people and robbing banks to feed your family isn't a crime, as long as you're putting in hard work? That's the logic right? You seriously need to be on a watch list 😂

[@5801160052086]

​@@jameskillu9171yes it is if hes stealing!!

[@mandrewsibuyi-dz5qr]

Why blame government i don't understand,who send them down there,the unswer is no

[@saysokamela896]

The government closed all the exit and left that one open

[@njabulobhebhe7145]

Y police they closing shafts wail there was people inside thats nonsense

[@kevinhill3197]

They should close all entrances. Problem solved.

[@dreamdomain9572]

Because these people are doing something illegal ​@@njabulobhebhe7145

[@montaguable]

The Government has let law and order evaporate. They killed employment. It is their fault that this Zama Zama situation developed.

[@GarethDiedericks]

Theft is theft… and his designer pants and belt is worth more than many people’s entire wardrobe

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

Why is he not even arrested 😮😢😮😢

[@chriatinemogne2835]

But it's clean.

[@sihletngcobo]

The minerals are God given they belong to every citizen.

[@buhlebenkosixozwa]

@@sihletngcobo the problem with democracies is that every idiot as a say

[@biko8229]

Who gave the colonial and apartheid thieves permits to mine African minerals?

[@wellinever1558]

They are so entitled that they must get fed. Really what is the world coming to. If i do something illegal is the government going to come to my help. They must be locked up. Why must others risk their lives to get them out.

[@innocentndimande5165]

one of zamazama said they’re millions of people underground , which means there’s a location or khasi there

[@carolshaik5402]

😂😂😂

[@gxobinjasambemntungwa9694]

Yadlala wena these guys go 30 km underground there's even spaza shops underground I think the Pakistanis are going to move there 😂😂.

[@PreciousNdlovu-jc8kw]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@AlidaBikane-m6n]

Under ground province

[@PhineasSokisi-e9m]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cathmar7394]

Imagine the logistics involved. Say 1000 people. 2 meals a day. All that food. The quantity and resources to get it down there. What about water. A man gets thirsty and must wash. Where do they store the water? How is it distributed over many levels ? Ablutions? Nothing is pumped out? Trash from supplies ? Can you imagine the stench and living conditions? What about clean air ? Pumped in and stale air removed? That's massive power consumption.? All of that and no means of getting out ? And it's the governments fault ?

[@JERRRR1]

Sellouts are community members not government

[@somnandizwidetv]

Stupid government stupid country, no one is even asking about the guys who come and buy what these guys get from there

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

😮😮😮government must send food for criminals 😮😮😮... Wow, South Africa is a movie indeed

[@faithMketo]

Hayi yi movie after movie naba batoyitoyayo ngamamenemene😮

[@chriscreations8853]

They were being fed by their family members until the cops deliberately deprived them of food and water. Also, as one of the guys mentioned, they also threw rocks at them. Such actions can hold up as a valid case in court against the government. The government and police are playing nice now to avoid getting sued. Law is law, even if it is in favour of the criminal. That's why prisoners are sent to hospital when they get sick. The basic human rights are respected in South Africa. It can be both a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view. However you can't be selective on where you can and cannot apply that law otherwise everything derails away from a democracy and South Africa no longer has human rights. Trust me, you don't wanna live in such a country where you can be arrested without the right to defend yourself. You don't wanna be arrested and deprived of food and water. You don't want rocks thrown at you without anything you can say about it. You should be happy you live in a country that respects basic human rights.

[@Josephine-1-i2v]

The police refuses the relatives to give food and water and medicine to the miners until the situation became worse, which means they were purposely killing them

[@kyslasher6830]

​@@chriscreations8853 pls tell us how law enforcement should handle this then? How are the police going to arrest them if they could just stay in the with the food and water they're supplied with?

[@o.c2231]

@@chriscreations8853 Why don’t you provide food and accommodation for these criminals at your expense? Allow them to socialise and share bread with your family

[@Tessa23w]

I thank God fr the heart he gave me criminal or no criminal human life matters

[@tjnotico]

how did they go down there?

[@AlidaBikane-m6n]

Government help them to go there

[@TebuwaMaphela-nd7wl]

Is a mix because even foriegn nationals are there, some were caught using a hole from someone's house to go the mine

[@kdkd2457]

You are very fooling, so what does the presence of foreign nationals mean? These people who are stuck in the shafts needs help simple regardless of their origins

[@TebuwaMaphela-nd7wl]

@kdkd2457 I mentioned them because some said people will say those guyz are foriegners, so because of ur stupidity we failed to read from previous sms slima

[@cernugaming]

Resurfaced ILLEGAL miner. Put the word "illegal" in your title.

[@thulizondi4044]

Why is it difficult for them to come out? Im asking sincerely. How do they normally come out kanti?

[@tholangmoeketsi6093]

Normal entrances and exits have been blocked by law enforcement to cut of food supply

[@mama86163]

They climb a rope to get up but because they are starving and dehydrated it's difficult for them to climb up

[@gregwheatley1355]

Ummm... Through the old shaft. Perhaps google a mine shaft.. Imagine a the top of a tree And all the branches are horizontal shafts... Some levels have additional shafts at deeper levels.. I recall south africa having the deepest mines in the world at a stage.. 6+ km deep Hope that helps

[@fajarkurniawan9434]

​@@gregwheatley1355 6km underground 🤯 claustrophobic me

[@Palmstreet-u7x]

@@gregwheatley1355the names have all changed, im trying to remember the names of the mines before 1994, was a Anglo American shaft outside Stilfontein, was if im right 4 kilometres down, but had two shafts, the main shaft and a sub-vertical shaft, at one time the other deepest mne was President Steyn 4 Shaft outside Welkom, was also a Anglo mine,

[@reinapearse9111]

Who are they selling to?? The people involved in buying illegally gained metals must be thrown in jail forever, gold , copper, steel, throttle the market.

[@Lynchkingbro]

This man is a South African I'm shocked yall don't care if they die so in human

[@natedengineering]

There are questions that are not asked.1. Who exactly was sending the food and water down? 2. what was the plan or method they had for resurfacing because they had to come out eventually.

[@yamama290]

They have the choice to either remain in the mine or come out! If you foolish actions kill you , unfortunately that's entirely on your choices , no one else but you to blame!

[@busisiweab9123]

This must be a lesson to all illegal miners

[@5801160052086]

Now they think they are heroes, meantime they common criminals

[@IthabelengMotloli-kk8vf]

How so because after this whole thing they gonna go down

[@busisiweab9123]

@ 😂😂😂😂

[@onlycars_za]

Crime is crime, and illegal mining is a serious and dangerous crime. We can't expect to support people who are literally ripping our country apart.

[@orangeninja912]

Dont let the brainwashing fool you.. Minerals belong to everyone. looting is why there is champagne for a few instead of water for all

[@Vlogyfatima]

Why you hiding his face but if it was a foreign eish

[@IthabelengMotloli-kk8vf]

Ypu can say that again if kele foreigner awa

[@mathebulagodwin8803]

to be honest this human rights is irritating me

[@PeterWierda-c6t]

That is not a man who's body was about to die of hunger.

[@monroemonroe1034]

MERCY HAS FALLEN IN THE MIST OF WRONG DOING AMEN GOD BLESS ALL FROM USA

[@Madumela_go_retwa]

The man with a cap is chatting garbage.....

[@ronnymavimbela55]

People re busy saying miners. Miners are qualified people formally employed by registered mining companies. They are not even artisanal miners cos that does not exist in SA, or at least not yet. These are criminals who are undermining SA laws

[@maureenmotsumi2212]

Gaverment didn't send those people there personally I'm fed up of tax money been used for things like this there is more important things we can use that money for

[@lemontree397]

Let's be real for a moment - those miners haven't had food and water for a long time now. I can only imagine their state of mind and increased likelihood to resort to cannibalism out of desperation to survive.

[@kgee3605]

Quiet shocked at the estimated number of people down there. That is a lot of people. Some high ranking people are surely making a lot of money from this business.

[@tumelomokoena6131]

The miners know how to resurface, it's their choice not to come out

[@fikifesi6790]

All these masterminds are dressednin designer clothing yet they describe tjemselves as poor miners... What BS

[@dnpo]

Do people hear what they're saying or we're the ones suffering the vomit from their mouths. What entitles one help from government when they're in the middle of a robbery? This is a criminal activity in action... Whoever comes out lives and whoever stays behind chooses to die

[@sanofimbo1391]

If the government feed criminals in the prison so they are the same this is the to change the law. A prison is a place of punishment pls

[@prospy788]

You cant hold the GVT accountable for such the government didnt send them to go and become illegal miners 😢

[@amandabotha1431]

They got in and they can get out. These people think that the Goverment own them anyting and they don't pay tax and now the Police and Government must be held accountable for their criminal act. I really think these people have a you oen me mind. They come in this country illigal and then go into these mine's and then they think everyone own them and cry human rights. They are good actors and now they suffering. They are not stuck they know where they went in and get out.

[@mthunzimapatwana]

Food for what? uyanya lo baba he is a beneficiary of this system weve been complaining about illegal miners for decades now we must help them? kanjani

[@mamasmosoathu1364]

The letter attached to the rope should have a pen and blank part where other illegal miners add the name of the person/dead body resurfacing. And it means the others guys underground helped with tieng the dead body on the rope...

[@janomesteve3129]

Before 1994 this country was better

[@palesa2906]

Better for who? How? You do know that apartheid was the biggest crime against humanity? Please go read some history and stop spewing rubbish! My grandfather disappeared during an apartheid raid, till today his remains were never found. You must never, never again say that apartheid era was better. In case you don't know, before 1994 South Africa was under the apartheid regime. The whole world was totally disgusted by apartheid, how dare you come here and praise it? Shame on you!

[@twentyfifty2050]

This is the mindset of an ignorant person. Chief it was better for you only

[@tirivanganimarumbei7470]

South Africa is one place where people can speak up

[@sugar-rayluvschelsea7233]

Can you sue the government for not allowing you to commit your crime safely??? TF???

[@arthurkayuza]

It's called self employment

[@darkgalaxy5548]

His clothes are very clean for working underground, don't you think?

[@Xsaraize]

It says he came out yesterday, so he probably washed and changed since then.

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

My question is, how come he is not even arrested 😮😢

[@anastasimankesemokgobu1724]

@@bathenebuthelezi1614that worries me

[@thabompofu6630]

He changed, use your brain

[@o.c2231]

@@thabompofu6630when police go to a persons home to arrest them, they are arrested in the clothes they are wearing. You don’t get an opportunity to change🙄Get your head out your arse!

[@phenomenalgt-lt7my]

We must feal sympathy with these people

[@corettamohohlo5445]

Imagine if we all engaged in crime because we don't work

[@ronnymavimbela55]

Say it again. Imagine

[@Somilangaye]

... why do you click bait news though?

[@leighcunningham756]

We all need to be held accountable for our choices. Nonsense playing the victim.

[@MichaelVumile-jb3lb]

Law less country , this guy is not arrested.

[@Xcla425]

Those hands are too clean for a miner

[@mamasmosoathu1364]

Yoo...If he mentions 800 people where he was, i believe the number to be 4500 if the mine is the size of the area... The truths are coming out bit by bit... I can't wait for next week...

[@mthokozisilanga4497]

So if you gave no food and water you loose your hands, feet and eyes to leave the mine? Hayi bo! What happened to South Africa?

[@Skotiz1]

How did they go down in the first place??

[@bhekizwane2659]

If you are desparate to come out, when the rope comes you harness yourself and you wil be hoidted out. That is how you came down. If not, it is whether you dont want to or most of thise are so incapacitated. In that case, let SAPS take the leap of faith. SAPS can also be armed when going down there. I think in SA we ferve around a lot, instead of taking direct bold actions.

[@mathebulagodwin8803]

Prison is a rehabilitation whilst criminals are refusing to come out

[@costanzulu2845]

I thought they will be arrested for illegal miner

[@Madumela_go_retwa]

"The government has to be held accountable" "The government must be sued" what exactly is the man saying, is he even listening to his statements.

[@Palmstreet-u7x]

what did ANC do wrong ????

[@lifeOFzeff]

Once he was inside. Now he is on top.

[@sydwellnhlomulo2969]

Thanks to the people this is showing the GNU that were the Robwi ,Khalanga ,nyai and Vendas ,manyike and vanwanati or bagalaka we were trading with gold and diomand long before the white settlers arrived

[@FolamiTowing24]

Good for the poor not the rich

[@dududugwala1059]

Then why they poor

[@esmenaicker1308]

How did they get in there. Thats how they must come out

[@willit344]

I feel nothing

[@DenzyMalunga]

Question to police . Do you have enough hand cuffs and jail space to accommodate these ACCUSED?

[@fajarkurniawan9434]

nowadays the police use cheap plastic zip ties

[@mrsoshadabaadman]

What do you think must be done with them?

[@TebuwaMaphela-nd7wl]

Goverment must be sued, hey l don't understand if someone enters in the mine illegally and decide to sue goverment

[@thabompofu6630]

For cutting food supply.Your brothers in prison still get 3 meals a day.The argument is, let them get food and water, then arrest them, simple.

[@TebuwaMaphela-nd7wl]

@thabompofu6630 So someone enters in a danger zone and expect to sue government, actual those who supply them with food other criminals, how many lives lost inside thses old mines

[@ashlouw5350]

​@@thabompofu6630But they can get food and water if the clip themselves to the harness provided for them to come out.. You do know they can voluntarily just come out and live like those prisoners in prison that get 3 meals you talk about. You're making it sound like it's a complicated thing.. When someone tries to steal something form you I hope you share that same emphathy you do for thieves. Have you morally corrupt yourself so much that you can't see things rationally

[@JORamoroka]

This thing has to sop immediately and make the shaft not to be accessible

[@ZuesNgcobo]

🤦🏾Suing the government for what? Grootman watches too many American movies they are arrogant let them rot in there

[@tirivanganimarumbei7470]

How do they put on the harness if they are weak?

[@nephalamakundani9641]

Did the government send them down there?

[@nthatomoroe4214]

He said 800 people are 2.5 kilometers underground? How big is it underground? Yho!

[@zamamanana1124]

Why are they being rescued they are not looking for help some one is sending them food mos....🤐🤐🤐🤐

[@viking9167]

Pour concrete

[@sammym9259]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@preciousmaphalala4708]

🤣🤣🤣

[@RastaAfricanGentleman]

The people are hungry and there are no jobs. Zim, Lesotho, Moz and Local people also abuse this illegal mining with criminal underworld and multinational smugglers in the forefront

[@wellinever1558]

Ja our Governments constitution must support foreigners thats ejy we are in a mess. Let their government help them and send them food..

[@Nkazimulo-Madiba]

Why didn't Mantashe close the mines in the previous term?

[@rustyvworld]

So why dont they all just come out? why they staying down there?

[@corettamohohlo5445]

They must go to prison and get food

[@MakanakaKamwendo]

Thank you for your love

[@BibiMolapisi]

This guy is talking Rubish who send them under ground they are caught by their own deets

[@kgotsonqubelani9385]

Kanti why this presenter keeps saying miners not abo zama zama😢

[@ThelmaMaseko-s8j]

Uyahlanya fuseg baganga bagange bese bathembele ku government ukuthi abasize ngamasimba lawo

[@neshnesh4633]

The problem is the South African citizens😂

[@amandabotha1431]

Now they feed them?????

[@christoerien9618]

Seems like a you problem... what where you doing there knowing it is wrong

[@kangelanikangelani4893]

Whats wrong with this guy, government must be held accountable, despite the offence of illigal mining which is an offence. How can governments be accountable.

[@lngubane7441]

How did they realize that there are people underground 🤔

[@leonardolupini3484]

Geez yes, 2000 zamas underground, and useless SA government did nothing. Morons

[@mama86163]

There's always been people under ground

[@dududugwala1059]

Why not govt run these mines, Chinise govt operate many businesses

[@ngaiziwezebbykatuuo3314]

Assist them no matter what 😢

[@bonganininja7064]

Don't blame the government for own doing.

[@preciousmaphalala4708]

what thing?🤔

[@alexpendukenimweshinigo3044]

People don't forget before you call them criminals it's not their fault its they government fault and if it wasn't for poverty they wouldn't have became criminals or gone down the . the problem is now a days the government only see other people's trouble but they don't now they're struggl we are all we have .❤ one Africa on nation.🇳🇦🇿🇦🇦🇴

[@MachonyonyoMasvingo]

Anchors always think its foreign nationals

[@MachonyonyoMasvingo]

It's true why is topics of anchors only specialized on foreign nationals not delivery services

[@abrahammkhwanazi9872]

There are a lot of foreigners in that industry and a handful of locals iam in the West rand we know very well what's going on in there

[@gxobinjasambemntungwa9694]

​@@abrahammkhwanazi9872you 100, right but there are our people as well recently I saw on carte blanche they were interviewing them in Mpumalanga so it's actually a syndicate with yts and chinese as well

[@babypolicemogale427]

South african government and give the human rights more power than its self. Nyaupe government

[@EltonMunyama]

What theft, who's mine is it? Is it not an abandoned mine,these people are trying to make a living through dangerous means.

[@beebee2409]

Those prisoners are kept inside the prison by police so they have to feed them.But the Zamazama are not kept under ground by the Police, that's thd difference Kuya vakala

[@peterkerry7132]

If he narrowly escape death how comes he is out of hospital neatly dressed and talk to tv

[@Servemoore]

You better takes food to the street and gave it to people's living there not the illegal minners....!!

[@lubhedeprojects]

But shouldn't he be behind bars ?

[@marianetleroux3892]

South African taxpayers have to pick up the tab for illegal immigrants, while we have to cut funding to our education department and Healthcare.