South African police launch manhunt for alleged illegal mining ‘kingpin&...

South African police have launched an intensive manhunt for James Neo Tshoaeli, a suspected “kingpin” of illegal mining operations, after 78 bodies were discovered at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein last week.

Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known as “Tiger,” is accused of overseeing the mining operation where the bodies of the deceased were found. Authorities allege that Tshoaeli was aided in escaping the mine by some officials after he was initially rescued from the shaft, along with over 240 other illegal miners.

The police had blockaded the mine for months, cutting off food and water supplies in an attempt to force the miners to surface. While many were rescued alive, some miners blamed Tshoaeli for causing deaths, assaults, and torture underground. The miners also accused him of hoarding food and depriving others, resulting in emaciation and weakness among those rescued.

Police Commissioner Patrick Asaneng vowed that officials responsible for helping Tshoaeli escape would face consequences, stating, “Heads will roll” once the investigation concludes.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe expressed frustration and embarrassment over the escape, confirming that an internal investigation had been launched to determine how Tshoaeli evaded capture.

The rescue operation, which followed a court order, faced significant challenges in identifying the 78 bodies recovered, many of whom were undocumented migrants. The miners had been underground since November 2024, when nationwide police operations against illicit mining intensified.

The Stilfontein mine, located 145 kilometers south-west of Johannesburg, has now been cleared of both the bodies and the surviving miners, authorities confirmed.

Rights groups and trade unions have condemned the police response, calling it a “massacre,” but law enforcement defended their actions, insisting that criminal masterminds behind illegal mining were responsible for controlling supplies and preventing miners from resurfacing.

The situation highlights the ongoing issue of illegal mining in South Africa, where thousands of miners, known as “zama zamas,” continue to operate in dangerous, unregulated conditions.

Scroll to Top