Zama zamas tell of being held hostage underground

As rescue operations at the abandoned Sabie mine shaft in Mpumalanga resumed yesterday, more than 40 zama zamas resurfaced from underground.

- Molefe Seeletsa

However, initial reports suggested that as many as 150 illegal miners were still underground.

Three bodies were recovered on Wednesday.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli confirmed that emergency medical services assessed rescued miners before they were placed in police custody.

Authorities also revealed troubling allegations that some miners were being held against their will.

"We have got a team of investigators here that are busy with the investigation, taking the information into consideration so that they separate these two groups from the victims, as well as others that were holding them hostage," Mdhluli said, speaking to SABC.

The police hope to uncover more weapons as part of their operation.

Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu shared harrowing accounts from six rescued zama zamas who spoke of human trafficking and forced labor.

"They said that when they came to this country, they thought that they were going to get decent work.