Kill the people'

"Ayanda had descended into Shaft 10 of the Buffelsfontein mine in late September 2024, lowered by a team of nearly 20 men operating ropes and a pulley above ground. That day, he'd spotted police vehicles near the mine's entrance. The 36-year-old assumed it was just routine patrols around the mine system, which is 2km (1.2 miles) deep. But then the rope pulley, via which food, water, batteries and other items arrived, stopped moving."

"Patrick was new to the mines. Tasked by the leaders of the artisanal miners with collecting the food, water and alcohol lowered down by the rope pulley, he hauled supplies along the slippery tunnels to small shops. Those first weeks were relaxed, fun even. There was fried chicken to eat, washed down with beer cooled in fridges run on diesel generators. But in mid-August, things started to change. Deliveries, including medicines like antiretroviral (ARV) pills for"

In September 2024, artisanal miners working illegally in Shaft 10 of the Buffelsfontein gold mine in South Africa became trapped underground at depths exceeding 1,500 meters. After police activity near the mine entrance, the rope pulley system that delivered food, water, batteries, and supplies abruptly stopped functioning. The miners, including Ayanda Ndabeni and Patrick Ntsokolo, were left in darkness and extreme heat with dwindling resources. Initially, conditions had been relatively tolerable with regular food deliveries and basic amenities. However, supply deliveries ceased in mid-August, cutting off essential provisions including medicines and sustenance. The trapped men faced mounting anxiety and deteriorating conditions as they remained abandoned underground for extended periods.

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