South African rescuers worked tirelessly over two days to pull 36 dead bodies and 82 survivors out of a gold mine.

The survivors now face charges for illegal mining and immigration violations. Police shared this update on Tuesday.

Since August, police have surrounded the mine, cutting off food and water. Their goal was to force the miners to come out and arrest them as part of a broader crackdown on illegal mining.

A miners’ rights group released shocking footage on Monday. The video revealed more trapped men and dozens of dead bodies underground. It also showed survivors who looked skeletal and weak.

Rescue teams continue their difficult task. They use a metal cage to lift men and bodies from a shaft over 2 kilometers deep. Police stated they would update the public daily on the number of people rescued or recovered.

A Reuters team visited the site in Stilfontein, about 150 kilometers from Johannesburg, on Tuesday. They saw rescuers carrying a man on a stretcher.

Nearby, a group of men, some looking emaciated, sat on the ground under police and paramedic supervision.

Illegal mining often happens in abandoned mines. Companies leave these mines when they are no longer profitable.

Unlicensed miners, many of them immigrants from other African countries, then enter to extract any remaining resources.

The South African government says the Stilfontein mine operation was necessary to fight illegal mining. Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe called it “a war on the economy.”

He further claimed illegal precious metals trade was worth 60 billion rand ($3.17 billion) last year.

‘We Will Smoke Them Out’

Additionally, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni defended the operation in November. “We will not help criminals. We will smoke them out,” she declared.

However, in December, a court ruled that volunteers could send supplies to the trapped miners. Last week, another court ordered the government to begin rescue efforts. These operations officially started on Monday.

Police confirmed in a statement that all 82 survivors rescued on Monday and Tuesday face charges. These include illegal mining, trespassing, and violating immigration laws. Two individuals face additional charges for possessing gold.

Vala Umgodi

The operation, called “Vala Umgodi” (Close the Hole in isiZulu), has faced criticism. Human rights groups and residents near Stilfontein have raised concerns.

A 26-year-old woman named Matumelo lives close to the mine. Her husband entered the mine in June while she was pregnant.

She last heard from him in August. Now, she cares for their newborn alone. “Is my husband alive or dead?” she asked, withholding her surname to avoid retaliation.

On Tuesday, local residents and rights groups protested outside a media briefing by police and mining officials. One protester held a sign that read, “STOP THE SACRIFICE. #FREETHEMINERS.”

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