78 Bodies Discovered – Rescue Mission Completed

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(5MinNewsBreak.com) – In a stunning revelation, South African authorities have been accused of a “horrific crackdown” on illegal miners that resulted in the deaths of at least 78 individuals at an abandoned gold mine.

The South African government’s heavy-handed approach to dealing with illegal miners, known as “zama zamas,” has come under intense scrutiny.

In an attempt to flush out these miners, police cut off food and water supplies for months.

“Our mandate was to combat criminality and that is exactly what we’ve been doing,” said South African police national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.

“By providing food, water and necessities to these illegal miners, it would be the police entertaining and allowing criminality to thrive,” she added.

While over 240 survivors were eventually rescued, the death toll continues to rise, with 78 bodies retrieved.

The majority of these miners were foreign nationals from neighboring countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, many of whom were in South Africa illegally.

This influx of illegal immigrants has not only put a strain on the country’s resources but also contributed to the growing problem of illegal mining, which poses a significant threat to South Africa’s economy.

To some, the South African government’s handling of this crisis has been nothing short of disastrous.

Civil rights groups and opposition parties have criticized the authorities for their refusal to stage a timely rescue mission.

The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, has called for an independent inquiry into the government’s mishandling of the situation.

Meanwhile, the government has vowed to double down on its crackdown on illegal mining.

“It’s a criminal activity. It’s an attack on our economy by foreign nationals in the main,” said Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe.

Although Mantashe’s statement identifies the economic threat posed by illegal mining, it fails to address the government’s inadequate border control and immigration policies that allowed this crisis to escalate.

The illicit precious metals trade was estimated to be worth a staggering 60 billion rand in lost revenue last year, underscoring the urgent need for stricter measures to protect South Africa’s natural resources and economic interests.

The government’s mishandling of this situation extends beyond the immediate crisis.

Of the 1,576 miners who exited the mine independently and were arrested, only 121 have been deported so far.

Critics argue that this lackluster approach to immigration enforcement only serves to encourage more illegal border crossings and perpetuate the cycle of illegal mining.

As South Africa grapples with an unemployment rate of over 30%, it is clear that the government must take decisive action to protect its citizens and resources.

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