Sheba Gold Mine Under Fire After Tragedy: Families Demand Justice for Fallen Miners

A desperate fight to bring loved ones home

In the quiet hills of Barberton, Mpumalanga, grief is colliding with anger. Families of two men who allegedly died underground at Sheba Gold Mine during a police raid last month are still waiting to lay their loved ones to rest. Their bodies remain trapped, and the mine’s refusal to send in its own rescue team has sparked outrage among mining activists and the community.

The National Association of Artisanal Miners (Naam) confirmed that negotiations with Sheba Gold Mine are ongoing. According to spokesperson Zethu Hlatshwayo, the decomposing bodies need urgent recovery, but the mine claims the operation is “too costly,” with an estimated price tag of around R300,000.

“This is not about money. These are human lives,” Hlatshwayo stressed. “If management won’t act, we will do it ourselves once given permission and equipment.”

Families caught between red tape and grief

The deaths are alleged to have occurred during a large-scale police crackdown on illegal mining in the region, which saw more than 500 artisanal miners arrested. But while arrests made headlines, families say the human cost is being ignored.

Police have since washed their hands of the matter. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdluli declined to comment, saying the operation was closed last month.

For grieving relatives, the silence is deafening. “How can the police walk away when our sons are still down there?” one family member reportedly asked on social media.

Activists say mining system is broken

The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) has joined Naam in condemning the mine’s stance, calling it a violation of basic human rights. The group argues that under South African law, Sheba Gold Mine is obliged to assist in retrieving bodies, regardless of the circumstances.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Macua said in a statement. “This tragedy is the result of a system that criminalises poverty while protecting powerful mining interests. Poor people are left to die underground, while mines and authorities turn away.”

The organisation also warned that the tragedy echoes the Stilfontein mine disaster, where artisanal miners perished after authorities allegedly cut off their food and water supply during anti-illegal mining operations.

A deeper problem than one mine

Illegal mining, known locally as zama-zama activity, has long been a flashpoint in South Africa’s mining belt. In areas like Mpumalanga and Gauteng, artisanal miners often risk their lives in abandoned shafts, driven by poverty and unemployment. Police raids, while aimed at stopping illegal mining, frequently result in violent clashes and loss of life.

Social media reactions show a divided public: some sympathise with the families, while others argue that the risks of illegal mining are well known. But even among critics, there’s growing agreement that leaving bodies underground is inhumane.

What comes next?

For now, families wait as Naam continues talks with Sheba Gold Mine. The longer it takes, the more painful the process becomes. “Every day that passes is another day of injustice,” said Hlatshwayo.

The tragedy has opened up bigger questions about how South Africa balances the fight against illegal mining with the need to protect human life. For the families of the trapped men, however, the demand is simple: bring them home.

{Source: The Citizen}

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