Rope used to retrieve trapped zama zamas

Police yesterday said at least 1,170 illegal miners had voluntarily resurfaced and were arrested since October 18, while others had to be pulled using the rope.  

The group of volunteers, who have been using the rope since Tuesday, were made to sign an indemnity form by police officers which allows them to cross the police yellow line to access the the shaft.

They arrive on site around 9am and finish work at 4pm.

Kagiso Gabashane, one of the volunteers, said because of the depth of the shaft, it takes them about an hour to help one person to the surface.

Most volunteers said they decided to get involved because the illegal miners were known to them. 

Gabashane claimed one of the men underground had impregnated his sister and has been gone for three months. “I have decided to help because I want him to come out and be able to support his child. I don’t want his child to be a burden to me,” he said.

“When he left, he said he was going to hustle because his girlfriend is pregnant; and when a person from this community says they’re going to hustle, they mean they’re going underground. So he has been there for three months, and my little sister is quite stressed about this whole thing,” he said.

Less than 1km away from the mine shaft are scores of family members – mostly women – who wait to hear if their loved ones have been rescued.

Yesterday, they were seen preparing to cook lunch on fire. 

At the shaft, police officers keep a close watch as the volunteers work relentlessly for hours to help those trapped.