Zinzi Tom, who has become a de-facto leader among families, expressed a profound sense of emotional conflict, stating, "I'm not coping, but I need to be strong. I need to put my feelings aside; I will deal with them after." Her insistence on not losing hope exemplifies the struggle faced by families of the trapped miners during such tragic operations.
As the government cracks down on illegal mining in South Africa, Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe highlighted the substantial economic impact, "Illegal mining has cost South Africa's economy 60bn rand ($3.2bn) last year," illustrating the severity of the issue on a national scale.
The rescue operation was spurred by a tragic turn of events, with reports that supplies initially withheld had to be resumed after miners began dying underground, leading to urgent actions on behalf of the government amid rising public pressure.
Analysts estimate that approximately 30,000 miners, or zama zamas, are contributing to the gold output in South Africa despite being unregulated, highlighting a significant underground economy that operates under perilous conditions.
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