South African Mine Rescue Operation Uncovers Dead Bodies

A long-delayed rescue operation at a disused gold mine in South Africa has begun, revealing a desperate situation underground where scores of illegal miners have been living for months.
The operation, facilitated by the government after a court order, started on Monday and has already brought up 26 miners alive, along with nine bodies.
Disturbing videos, released by the trade union General Industries Workers of South Africa (Giwusa), show the dire conditions underground. In one video, corpses wrapped in makeshift body bags can be seen, while another shows emaciated miners begging for help.
“We’re starting to show you the bodies of those who died underground.
“And this is not all of them… Do you see how people are struggling? Please we need help,” a male voice says in the video.
Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei condemned the authorities’ handling of the situation, calling it a “Stilfontein massacre.
“What has transpired here has to be called what it is; this is a Stilfontein massacre. Because what this footage does is show a pile of human bodies, of miners that died needlessly,” Sebei said.
The rescue operation involves lowering a cage down the 2km shaft to retrieve the miners.
The department of mineral resources is leading the effort, but has not confirmed whether the priority will be to retrieve those who had died or those in need of medical attention.
The situation has sparked widespread concern, with hundreds of miners still thought to be underground and over 1,000 having surfaced in the past few months.
The authorities have been criticized for their handling of the situation, with one government minister previously saying, “We are going to smoke them out.”
-ZimLive