South Africa Ends Rescue Operation in Illegal Goldmine with 78 Dead

The Stilfontein mine tragedy highlights tensions over illegal mining and government crackdowns, with survivors facing arrest and ongoing scrutiny of official actions.

A rescue operation at the abandoned Stilfontein goldmine in South Africa concluded with 246 miners rescued and 78 confirmed dead.
The miners, trapped for months, were part of an illegal mining operation in a disused shaft over two kilometers deep.
Government crackdowns on illegal mining included cutting off food and water supplies and blocking exits, leading to accusations of negligence and human rights violations.
Survivors face arrest for illegal mining, with many being foreign nationals from neighboring countries like Lesotho and Mozambique.
The tragedy has reignited debates about poverty, unemployment, and the lack of economic alternatives in South Africa's mining regions.