Sundaymail Editor
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
THE process of identifying the remains of more than 20 Zimbabweans who perished after being trapped for weeks in the abandoned Stilfontein gold mine in South Africa has begun.
The miners succumbed to harsh underground conditions after being holed up in disused mine tunnels for weeks, fearing arrest after South African authorities launched a siege operation last year to clamp down on illegal mining.
So far, DNA samples obtained from five families are now being compared to those recovered from the remains of some of the deceased for positive identification.
Other families that suspect their loved ones may have perished in the mine disaster are also being urged to come forward and submit DNA samples to positively identify at least 26 bodies lying in South African mortuaries that are believed to be Zimbabwean.
Additionally, fingerprints of the deceased have been taken and are being brought to Zimbabwe for cross-referencing with Civil Registry Department official records.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Mr David Hamadziripi said: “The number of the deceased who are presumed to be Zimbabwean has risen to 26. The police have notified us of four other bodies, but we still need to go through the process of actually confirming that indeed these are Zimbabweans.”
The embassy, Amb Hamadziripi said, had already received DNA samples from some families of the deceased.
“We have received DNA samples from Zimbabwe for five of the deceased,” he added.
“Among those, there are five Zimbabweans or there are five deceased who we have some real confidence that they are Zimbabweans, and we have been able to trace their relatives back home.”
He said the Zimbabwean police had specifically collected DNA samples from mothers of the deceased, as maternal DNA provides the most reliable match.
“Police in Zimbabwe were able to go and get DNA material, particularly from the mothers of those individuals who are said to have died.
“Once a match is confirmed, then of course the process of repatriation of the deceased will commence,” Amb Hamadziripi added.
“Police in South Africa have also collected fingerprints of some of the individuals presumed to be Zimbabwean, and these have been sent to Zimbabwe for verification.”
Embassy officials are also searching for Zimbabweans who may have survived the ordeal and are currently being held by South African authorities.
“We have deployed a team to North West province to visit various police stations and correctional facilities, where some Zimbabweans who made it out of the mine are believed to be in custody.
“Some of the Zimbabweans who survived that ordeal in the mine are in custody or they are held in some facilities here in Pretoria.”
Reports from South Africa indicate that disaster unfolded when hundreds of miners chose to stay underground, fearing arrest as South African police launched a siege operation targeting illegal mining last year. During the operation, close to 500 illegal miners were arrested at the mine.
Preliminary indications suggest that up to 100 of those arrested are Zimbabweans.
Stilfontein mine, once a major gold producer, has been closed for years.
In August 2024, an operation was launched to flush out the illegal miners, sealing off entrances to the mine and cutting off food and water supplies.
The authorities’ tactics, intended to force the miners to the surface, inadvertently trapped hundreds underground.
Many were unable to escape due to fear of arrest and the dangerous conditions within the mine.
With limited food and water, the trapped miners faced starvation, dehydration and exposure to hazardous conditions.
After a prolonged standoff, a court-ordered rescue operation began in January 2025.
A metal cage and lift system were used to recover survivors and deceased miners from deep within the mine.
Online Reporter