Makhudu sefara biography for kids

The deaths of at least 87 illegal miners at the abandoned Stilfontein mine in the North West is among the most avoidable tragedies to have struck democratic South Africa, matched perhaps by the Marikana massacre and the Life Esidimeni scandal. The bodies of the so-called zama zamas were retrieved this week after the government was forced by a court to help rescue the miners.

The rescue operation followed a months-long standoff between the miners and the police, who descended on the mine in August last year.

Community leaders and NGOs have for months urged the government to rescue the miners and allow food and water into the mine shaft. The government’s attitude was to treat the area like a crime scene —  refusing to assist those it regarded as criminals.

The backdrop of this was the intemperate statement by minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, after a cabinet meeting in November. She told the media: “We are not sending