87 Dead in South Africa Illegal Mine Standoff as Police Actions Draw Criticism

A court-ordered rescue operation concludes after months of controversy over tactics used to address illegal mining at Buffelsfontein Gold Mine.

South African authorities have confirmed 87 deaths in a months-long standoff with illegal miners at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine, with 78 bodies recovered during a recent rescue operation.
The miners, many of whom were undocumented foreign nationals, were trapped underground for months, reportedly dying from starvation and dehydration.
Authorities faced backlash for cutting off food and supplies in an effort to 'smoke them out,' a tactic condemned by trade unions and community leaders as inhumane.
Community groups initiated their own rescue attempts prior to a court ruling that forced the government to launch an official operation, which ultimately rescued 246 survivors.
Calls for accountability have grown, with demands for an independent inquiry into the handling of the crisis and criticism of broader government efforts to combat illegal mining.