A chilling letter from trapped miners in Stilfontein claims some have resorted to eating human flesh to survive, as desperation deepens underground.
Stilfontein latest news: Christmas Day letter reveals miners are eating human flesh to survive
Released on Christmas Day, the letter, first shared by EWN, paints a grim picture of life in the abandoned gold shafts.
Hunger, dehydration, and neglect by the syndicates that control the mining operations have pushed the miners to extreme measures, the letter alleges.
The letter’s authenticity remains unclear, as recent reports suggest the scribes—responsible for documenting the miners’ plight—do not resurface with the others who occasionally make it above ground.
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Resurfacing miners, often sick or frail, reportedly do not know how the letters are written or who decides the content.
Efforts to address the crisis have faced legal and logistical hurdles.
Earlier this week, the Pretoria High Court dismissed an urgent application by MACUA to compel the state to provide food, water, and medical supplies to the miners.
The decision sparked outrage, with critics accusing the court of failing to uphold basic human rights.
The suspension of Operation Vala Umgodi—a state operation targeting illegal mining —has left the community without tangible solutions.
Advocacy groups continue to press for intervention, calling the situation a humanitarian catastrophe.
MACUA spokesperson Sabelo Mnguni, in a recent interview with eNCA, described the plight of the miners as “modern-day slavery,” drawing parallels with the Marikana massacre, a dark chapter in South African history.
Stilfontein has long been a hub for illegal mining controlled by violent syndicates.
These groups exploit vulnerable miners, promising supplies in exchange for gruelling labour underground. Trapped miners have limited access to food or medical aid, with many forced to endure inhumane conditions.
Despite high-profile police and military raids, including the arrest of over 1,300 individuals linked to illegal mining this year, the region’s systemic issues persist.
