Daggafontein miners’ community unites amid grief

As investigations continue into the fire that claimed the lives of illegal miners at the Daggafontein Mine Dump, the family of one victim is struggling to lay him to rest.

Njodza Mavengwa (49) was among the seven miners part of a larger group of over 50 intercepted by the police during Operation Vala Umgodi on August 26.

The operation took a tragic turn when a fire, allegedly ignited by law enforcement, swept through the reeds near the Blesbok River – a known escape route for zama zamas in the area.

One person was confirmed dead at the scene, while six others succumbed to burn injuries in the weeks that followed.

Miners and residents at the Daggafontein Mine Dump near the Blesbok River where a fire, allegedly started during a police raid, swept through the reeds.

Mavengwa’s widow, Elizabeth Masirivha (45), is facing financial challenges in arranging her husband’s funeral and transporting his body to Zimbabwe.

She has raised only R9 000 of the R22 000 needed, with donations from fellow miners and the Daggafontein informal settlement community.

“I never imagined I would be planning my husband’s burial so soon. The thought of being unemployed and unable to give him a dignified send-off is heartbreaking,” Masirivha said.

She had been relying on piece jobs and had moved to Springs four months ago, lured by a friend’s promise of better financial opportunities in the area.

“I’m struggling to come to terms with his passing. He left home promising to improve our financial situation,” Masirivha said.

“Since he started working in Daggafontein, we were able to cover our children’s school fees.

“I feel tremendous pain. Even though my husband and the other miners were illegally mining, they didn’t deserve to die like that. The police should have arrested them and given them lengthy jail sentences instead of setting a fire.

“Seeing him in such a state in hospital is a memory I wish I could forget.”

Mavengwa’s landlord, Lerato Manyaka, said community support has been invaluable in helping to cover the funeral expenses.

“Some miners have since returned to work to help raise funds for the families of those who died, including Mavengwa’s. What happened to these miners at the hands of law enforcement is terrible. No one deserves to die like that,” she said.

While some miners survived and were discharged from hospitals, others continue to fight for their lives in various local hospitals.

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“We don’t know what will happen to them,” Manyaka added.

“Many zama zamas, including South Africans, are hesitant to speak out against law enforcement for fear of repercussions.”

Following allegations that members of Operation Vala Umgodi were responsible for the fire, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the SAPS provincial spokesperson, confirmed that detectives had notified the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to investigate these claims.