The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho reported on the ongoing rescue operation at Stilfontein Gold Mine in South Africa’s North West Province. The incident, which began on August 18, 2024, involved an estimated 4,500 illegal miners being trapped underground. Local authorities have since launched a successful rescue operation.
The Lesotho High Commission in South Africa has been closely monitoring the situation. As of now, 1,905 miners have been rescued, including 200 individuals believed to be from Lesotho. Tragically, 87 bodies have been recovered, although they remain unidentified pending further investigation.
The Ministry also confirmed that many of the rescued individuals, including those from Lesotho, lack proper documentation such as passports, which would allow them to legally reside in South Africa.
