SAFTU Statement on the Stilfontein Massacre
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) is outraged and deeply saddened by the unfolding massacre at Shaft 11 of Stilfontein, where 59 bodies of miners have already been brought to the surface, and 101 survivors have emerged resembling walking ghosts after enduring weeks without food or water. These miners, many of them undocumented and desperate workers from Mozambique and other Southern African countries, were left to die in one of the most horrific displays of state wilful negligence in recent history.
This massacre reflects the South African government’s failure to uphold the most basic tenet of our Constitution: the right to life. The Constitution guarantees this right to everyone within our borders, regardless of their nationality or legal status. To allow anyone—be they citizens or undocumented immigrants—to starve to death in the depths of the earth is a direct violation of this principle and the state’s constitutional responsibility to protect life.
A Government Without Humanity
It is unconscionable that the South African government allowed this situation to deteriorate to such an extent. While it is true that these miners were engaged in illegal mining activities, driven by desperation and extreme poverty, their actions do not justify condemnation to death by starvation.
The government’s inhumane and callous response, particularly the statements by the Minister in the Presidency likening the operation to “smoking them out,” demonstrates a shocking disregard for human life. This rhetoric, combined with the lack of urgency to rescue these miners, amounts to state-sanctioned murder. The videos circulating of government officials overseeing the “smoking out” of miners confirm the deliberate nature of their actions.
Parallels to Brutal Wars and Double Standards
The method of killing through starvation is reminiscent of the most brutal wars and genocides. The South African government has often condemned the use of food as a weapon in conflicts like the one between Israel and Palestine, but here at home, it stands accused of employing the same barbaric tactics. This hypocrisy cannot go unnoticed.
The Minister of Minerals and Energy, who as a former mineworker and union leader should have been more sympathetic, remained indifferent and failed to even visit the site until bodies started piling up. This callousness mirrors the stance of President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Marikana massacre, when he referred to striking miners as “dastardly criminal” and called for “concomitant action”, which led to the killing of 34 workers. The cold, nonchalant manner in which government officials treat this needless massacre is testament of how cheap black life is.
The Truth About Shaft 11
Despite the lies and misinformation propagated by some government officials and uninformed South Africans, SAFTU has verified the following facts:
1. No Viable Exit: The only feasible way out of Shaft 11 was through the makeshift community-operated structure using ropes, a process that took nearly an hour per worker.
2. Shaft 10’s Crawl Path: While there was a theoretical escape route via Shaft 10, it required 37 hours of crawling—an impossible feat for miners already weakened by hunger and dehydration.
3. No Connection to Other Shafts: Claims that miners could have exited via other shafts, such as Margaret Shaft 5, are baseless as these shafts are not physically connected to Shaft 11.
The government knew these facts but chose inaction, leaving the miners to die a slow and agonizing death.
A Second Massacre of Mineworkers
This tragedy is eerily reminiscent of the Marikana massacre, where 34 miners were killed by live ammunition in a premeditated act of state violence. In Stilfontein, hunger has been used as a weapon to achieve the same deadly outcome. This is nothing short of the systematic killing of 59 workers, with the death toll likely to rise as more bodies are recovered.
Holding the Government Accountable
If pathological tests confirm that starvation was the cause of death, SAFTU will spare no effort in ensuring that those responsible within the government are held accountable. South Africa is not a banana republic where the state can act with impunity. The Constitution and international law demand justice, and SAFTU will fight for it.
SAFTU stands in solidarity with the survivors and the families of the deceased. We will continue to advocate for the rights of all workers, documented or undocumented, and for a government that respects human dignity and life. The right to life is non-negotiable, and SAFTU will not rest until justice is served.
A Statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For more details, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
066 168 2157
Newtonm@saftu.org.za
