Police launch appeal to identify relatives of 20 Zimbabweans who d!ed in South Africa while carrying out illegal mining. Police say bodies of the 20 remain unclaimed.

In January 2025, a tragic event unfolded in Stilfontein, South Africa, where at least 20 Zimbabwean nationals were confirmed dead after being trapped in an abandoned gold mine. The miners had been holed up for weeks  fearing arrest.

The incident involved illegal miners, some of whom were likely Zimbabwean, who were trapped  due to an operation called “Operation Vala Umgodi” to curb illegal mining activities

The trapped miners had limited access to food, water, and other essential resources, leading to their deaths.

The Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa  worked with the South African government to verify the nationalities of the deceased miners.

Source Zimbolive