How the South African Mining Tragedy Unfolded
An episode of the Next Africa podcast, hosted by Bloomberg, titled "How the South African Mining Tragedy Unfolded" was published on January 16, 2025 and runs 15 minutes.
January 16, 2025 ·15m · Next Africa
Episode Description
South African rescue workers retrieved 78 bodies from a disused gold mine in Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal extractors have been involved in a months-long standoff with the authorities. Civil rights groups said at least 100 people died from starvation after the mine was sealed off by the security forces to deny those underground access to food to force them to the surface.
Bloomberg’s S’thembile Cele has been on the ground at the Buffelsfontein mine and joins Jennifer Zabasajja, to explain who the miners were, why the government was so keen to crack down on illegal mining - and how the operation ended in such tragic circumstances.
For more stories from the region, subscribe to the Next Africa newsletter here
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Similar Episodes
Apr 10, 2026 ·45m
Mar 27, 2026 ·47m
Mar 26, 2026 ·59m