Stilfontein mining saga, North West, South Africa — in November, the South African government brought even more vigour to operation Vala Umgodi (close the hole), an initiative aimed at sealing mine entrances in Stilfontein to combat illegal mining activities.
Over the past months, the operation, which first launched in December 2023, has led to numerous arrests and efforts to dismantle underground mining networks. Despite its intentions, the operation has faced growing backlash from civil society groups and human rights advocates.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has reportedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medication to illegal miners, effectively cutting off their resources and forcing them to surface. While these measures continue unabated, even through the December holidays and now in 2025, critics argue the operation could escalate into a humanitarian crisis.
Several organisations, including the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA), Lawyers for Human Rights and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) have raised concerns about the potential for unimaginable catastrophe, drawing parallels to the 2012 Marikana massacre, in which 34 miners were killed during a wage strike. They fear the ongoing standoff between illegal miners and law enforcement could lead to a similarly tragic outcome if tensions remain unresolved.
Meshack Mbangula, the national coordinator of MACUA, criticised the government’s approach, stating that starving illegal miners violates their constitutional right to life under Section 11 of the Constitution. “I don’t believe this is a rescue anymore. It’s just a hearse that is here to collect corpses, dead people because if they wanted to collect them alive then they should be allowing food and water to go in,” Mbangula said.
As the result, the organisations have lodged complaints with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which is currently investigating the matter. Advocates argue that while illegal mining poses significant challenges, the state’s response must prioritise the preservation of life and uphold human rights standards.
Meanwhile, the South African government has noted these concerns, wih the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mikateko Mahlaule, calling on all roleplayers in operation Vala Umgodi to approach the situation in Stilfontein with due care. He urged them to strike a balance between two constitutional imperatives – the right to life and the police’s duty to prevent, combat and investigate crime.
However, as the operation continues unabated in 2025 despite fears the Stilfontein death toll – which stands at 9 at the time of publication – could rise, the debate intensifies over whether its measures are a justified or purely an infringement on basic human rights. With tensions rising, all eyes remain on Stilfontein to see how this controversial operation will unfold given the transpiring humanitarian crisis.
The history and significance of operation Vala Umgodi
The country has been grappling with the scourge of illegal mining (as we previously highlighted in this article) for many years, with surrounding mining communities having to bear the brunt of peripheral criminal activities such as rape, robbing and damage to public infrastructure.
To intervene, the South African government launched operation Vala Umgodi – which translates to ‘close the hole’ in Zulu – first in December 2023, which they insist has brought the much-needed relief to the affected communities since its inception.
