Dead people seen in videos from unused axis

Disturbing videos have emerged showing dire conditions at a disused gold mine in South Africa, where many illegal miners have been living underground for months.

They have been there since police operations targeting illegal mining began across the country last year.

In one of the videos, which has not been independently verified by the BBC, bodies can be seen wrapped in body bags. A second shows the gaunt figures of some still-living miners.

The long-delayed bailout operation began on Monday after a court last week ordered the government to facilitate it.

Last year, arguing that the miners had deliberately entered the Stilfontein well without permission, the authorities took a hard line, blocking food and water supplies.

In November, a government minister said: “We will remove them.”

More than 100 of the illegal miners, known locally as “zama zamas”, have reportedly died underground since a crackdown began at the mine, 145 km (90 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.

The authorities, however, have not confirmed this figure as it has yet to be “verified by an official source”, a spokesman told the BBC.

Hundreds are believed to still be in the mine, and more than 1,000 have surfaced in recent months.

In one of the videos released by the General Industries Workers of South Africa (Giwusa) union, dozens of shirtless men can be seen sitting on a dirty floor. Their faces have faded. Off camera a male voice is heard saying that the men are hungry and need help.

“We are starting to show the bodies of the dead underground,” he says.

“And this is not all… Do you see how people are struggling? Please, we need help.”

In another video, a man says: “This is hunger, people are dying of hunger.” Then the death toll stands at 96 and calls for help, food and supplies.

The union says the footage was recorded on Saturday.

In a briefing near the site of the rescue operation on Monday, the Giwusa chief, along with members of the community, said the videos shared a “very grim picture” of the situation underground.

“What happened here needs to be called what it is; it’s a massacre in Stilfontein. What this picture does is because it shows a pile of human bodies, miners who died needlessly,” said Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei.

He accused the authorities of what he called a “treacherous policy” made on purpose.

The Department of Mineral Resources, which is leading the rescue effort, told the BBC that Monday’s operation included lowering a cage that was then raised when loaded with people.

That structure is designed to hold six to seven people, depending on weight, according to Giwusa. It has gone down the axis – descending about 2km – every hour. The union said as of late Monday, 26 miners had been recovered alive, along with nine bodies.

Department of Mineral Resources spokesperson Makhosonke Buthelezi could not confirm whether the priority would be to recover the dead or those in need of medical attention.

On Tuesday, the department will hold a meeting with the police ministry to inform them of the operation.