Mittellose South Africans and migrants risk their lives in illegal mines – and are exploited by criminal gangs – Catholic views

In the small town of Stilfontein, about 90 miles from the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, hundreds, possibly thousands of illegal miners – praised. Zama Zamas (What can be translated as a “hustle and bustle”, people who take risks) have been underground in an abandoned mine shaft for more than a month. She refuses to leave the mine and are in a patient situation with the South African police service.

The police have published officials who are waiting for them on the surface. Although more than 1,000 miners have already appeared and have been arrested, the authorities have no idea how many miners are still 2,000 meters underground in the shaft. The corpses of dead miners have been pulled to the surface by rope in the past few weeks.

At the beginning of November, the South African authorities said that they would end illegal mining in an operation called Vala Umgodi (“Close the pit”). These efforts have proven to be deeply challenging for the civil authorities.

The South African police have stopped the delivery of all food supplies to the miners to suppress them in order to exceed again. A minister in the presidency, Khumbudzo ntshaveni, actually said that the miners would not be sent under the underground. “We do not send criminals. We'll smoke them, ”she said. “Criminals are not to be helped. Criminals should be pursued under criminal law. “

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Russell Pollitt, SJ, is America's correspondent Johannesburg.

With thanks to the America Magazine And Russell Pollitt SJ, where this article originally appeared.