The Air Reeked of Death: Conclusion of the Stilfontein Mine Rescue -

On Monday, the formal rescue operation commenced to save miners trapped in an abandoned mineshaft in Stilfontein. Two brave individuals, clad in protective gear, entered a metal cage designed to lower them deep underground. Due to the perilous conditions, neither police nor rescue teams accompanied them. Taking on this vital mission were Mandla Charles and Mzwandile Mkwayi, both hailing from Khuma, a nearby township. They have been active members of the community leadership group advocating for the miners’ rescue since October 2024, unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.

Mzwandile Mkwayi (left) and Mandla Charles, the two community volunteers who entered the mineshaft to assist in the rescue.

“The past few months have been incredibly challenging for everyone in the Khuma community,” expressed Charles. “From the beginning, families of the miners would approach us, asking as community leaders, ‘Is my father alive? Is my son alive?’ We had no answers. So, when the opportunity to help arose, we seized it, as this issue is profoundly significant for us.”

As the cage descended to an astonishing depth of 1,280 meters, Charles and Mkwayi encountered chilling scenes. They found hundreds of emaciated miners, some hanging on to life, alongside numerous lifeless bodies.

“The odor of death filled the air,” Charles recounted. “When the miners saw us, they believed we were their rescuers; they could hardly believe their eyes. I sensed that many had come to terms with the possibility of dying down there.”

“We promised each other that we had to show strength and courage, even in the face of such a bleak situation,” Mkwayi shared. “We understood that we needed to remain strong for the miners who relied on our help.”

The most vulnerable individuals were extracted first for urgent medical care. Charles and Mkwayi stayed in the shaft to oversee the operation, only returning to the surface at the end of each day.

After three days, they, along with the surface crew, successfully rescued 246 miners and recovered 78 bodies.

Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie converses with a colleague as they prepare the rescue cage with camera and audio equipment to detect signs of life.

Mines Rescue Services CEO Mannas Fourie noted that by late Wednesday, community volunteers indicated that there were no survivors left in the shaft.

On Thursday, a vacant cage was filled with water and fitted with auditory and visual gear, then sent down to search for any remaining signs of life.

“We operated the rescue mission at a depth of 1,280 meters, but today, we deployed the cage to over 2,000 meters, reaching water. The camera and sound devices have detected nothing, so for now, we are suspending the rescue efforts,” Fourie stated.

Acting North West Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng spoke to the press gathered outside the shaft.

“Determining whether anyone can be held accountable for the fatalities will be up to the courts,” he remarked.

Police operations will continue, with an ongoing police presence in the vicinity. Discussions with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will be initiated to address the situation concerning abandoned mines.

“What I experienced down there will remain etched in my memory,” Mkwayi noted.

“I may seek trauma counseling, but I will never be able to erase that experience from my mind,” he continued.

One of the miners saved by Mkwayi offered him his mining helmet in appreciation upon reaching the surface.

“He told me he had nothing else to give but requested that I accept his helmet as a memento. I will cherish that helmet forever. I intend to display it in my home, and when I am older, I will share this story with my grandchildren,” Mkwayi reflected.