Why did 87 miners die trapped underground in South Africa as police tried to force their surrender?
South Africa's president is facing calls to order an inquiry into a police operation that was meant to combat illegal mining but ended up leaving 87 miners to die underground as authorities attempted to force them to surrender during a monthslong standoff.
South Africa criticized for ‘horrific’ mining crackdown after 78 bodies pulled from underground
The clampdown on illegal mining cut off food and water to hundreds of miners underground. At least 78 bodies were pulled from a mining shaft this week, and more are believed to remain underground.
Dozens of Dead Pulled From Illegal South African Gold Mine After Standoff With Authorities
The prospectors were trapped underground for months as police, on orders from South Africa’s government, attempted to starve them out.
South African miner on 6-month ordeal underground and illicit gold industry
The tragedy at the abandoned gold mine near the town of Stilfontein began to unfold in August, when police cut off food supplies for a period of time to the miners working illegally in the mine's tunnels.
South Africa Mine Rescue Ends, Anger Rises Over 78 Deaths in Police Siege
Illegal mining is common in parts of gold-rich South Africa. Typically, undocumented miners known as zama zamas - from an isiZulu expression for "taking a chance" - move into mines abandoned by commercial miners and seek to extract whatever is left. Some are under the control of violent criminal gangs.
A South African horror story: Illegal mining standoff draws to an end
In South Africa a months long standoff between police and illegal miners in an abandoned gold mine comes to end, with close to 80 found dead in grim recovery operation.
South African miner describes horrors for those who spent months underground
Dozens of men sat and lay together in small caves, some so shallow they couldn’t stand up. The air was wet and stuffy, and wracking coughs echoed in the confined space. Bodies wrapped in fabric and twine were set aside in rows nearby.
Next Africa: How the South African Mining Tragedy Unfolded
South African rescue workers retrieved 78 bodies from a disused gold mine in Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal extractors have been involved in a months-long standoff with the authorities. Civil rights groups said at least 100 people died from starvation after the mine was sealed off by the security forces to deny those underground access to food to force them to the surface.
Why South Africa wants to jail miners trapped underground for months
More than 70 people have reportedly died while trapped in a mine after a monthlong standoff with the South African government over illegal mining. CBS News' Chris Livesay has more.
Standoff in South Africa ends with 87 miners dead and anger over police ‘smoke them out’ tactics
The miners are suspected to have died of starvation and dehydration, although no causes of death have been released.
South African police end mine rescue operation with at least 78 dead and 246 survivors
Rescuers and volunteers have pulled at least 78 dead miners and more than 160 survivors from an abandoned South African gold ...
'Mammoth task' to identify South Africa mine victims, police say
It will be a "mammoth task" to identify the bodies brought up from a disused mineshaft in South Africa this week, a police ...
Rescuers try to free men trapped in South African gold mine with scores reported dead
The South African government has launched a rescue operation at an abandoned gold mine in the country’s North West province, ...
Old Video Shows South African Firefighters Arriving in Canada To Fight Wildfires in Alberta, Not LA
Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the worst in the country's history, with South Africa being one of several countries to ...
South Africa Reaches Huge Milestone In Formula 1 Entry Bid
South Africa is making significant progress in its journey to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix by 2026, by inviting potential host ...
South African rand firms ahead of Trump inauguration
South Africa's rand strengthened in cautious trade on Friday, as investor focus shifted towards U.S. President-elect Donald ...
Across Africa, Russia is growing in influence. What might Moscow want?
Reliance on Russia’s military offerings has become increasingly prevalent in parts of Africa, amid an aggressive push by ...
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South Africa's Pace Attack Takes Another Hit With Gerald Coetzee's Injury Woes Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Gerald Coetzee, expected to replace Anrich Nortje in South Africa's Champions Trophy 2025 squad, faced a hamstring issue, ...