Devastating fire claims life during raid on Daggafontein illegal miners
Fire at Daggafontein Mine leaves one dead, others missing. Survivors say the blaze was meant to drive them out, but it led to devastating consequences.
More than 50 illegal miners were intercepted at the Daggafontein Mine Dump on Fish Eagle Road during Operation Shanyela, conducted by the SAPS and other law enforcers on Monday.
The operation took a tragic turn when a fire, allegedly ignited by law enforcement, swept through the reeds near the Blesbok River – a common escape route for zama zamas in the area.
According to some survivors, the fire was intended to flush out miners from their hiding spots, but it resulted in devastating consequences.
One person was confirmed dead at the scene, and several others remain unaccounted for.
Concerned residents from the Kwasa and Daggafontein informal settlements gathered near the river, anxiously hoping to find the missing individuals.
A miner, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Springs Advertiser about the harsh realities faced by those involved in illegal mining.
“As much as we know what we’re doing is illegal, we depend on it. This is how we put bread on the table for our families,” he said.
“I’ve been a zama zama since 2007, and it’s the only thing I know how to do.”
The miner expressed that while police raids are a common occurrence, Monday’s incident felt particularly threatening.
“We are used to police coming to raid the area, but what happened on Monday made us feel like we were being targeted to be killed.”
He recounted his harrowing escape from the burning reeds, describing how he and others, drenched in mud, had to act quickly to avoid being burned alive.
“We managed to take off our wet overalls and wrap our arms to prevent burns while pulling ourselves out of the swamp. We had to think fast because, had we not, we would have been caught in the flames.”
Another miner, still shaken by the ordeal, revealed that his younger brother was fighting for his life at a local hospital.
“I was told he was badly burnt, suffering third-degree burns on his face and upper body,” he said.
Colonel Noxolo Kweza, SAPS Gauteng spokesperson, confirmed that a search operation was conducted at the mine dump on Tuesday after community members reported hearing voices of people calling for help, believed to be trapped in the swamp.
“The incident followed an illegal mining operation the previous day, where individuals fled from the police. Despite a thorough search of the area, no individuals were found, and no signs of distress or screams for help were detected,” said Kweza.
The search operation was suspended at 23:00 due to poor visibility and hazardous conditions.
“No injuries or property damage were reported,” Kweza added.
“The SAPS takes the safety and well-being of the community seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.”
