Bodies Recovered from Illegal Mines in South Africa

In a crackdown on illegal mining in South Africa, authorities have retrieved the bodies of seven illegal miners, known as 'zama zamas', since November, with six found in a recent two-day span. The operations are ongoing at several abandoned mines, including the Buffelsfontein and Margaret shafts, where hundreds of miners are still underground, with estimates of those remaining ranging from hundreds to possibly 4,000. Local officials have limited food and water supplies to encourage the miners to resurface, while some zama zamas report being coerced into labor under dire conditions. President Cyril Ramaphosa has labeled these miners a 'menace' to the economy and security, as their presence has been associated with rising criminality. Rescue operations are complicated, with reports of miners being trapped and allegations of forced labor by illegal mine bosses. The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to assist with the challenging rescue efforts.