SAFTU condemns Stilfontein massacre

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has condemned the tragic events at Shaft 11 in Stilfontein, where 59 miners have been confirmed dead and 101 survivors have emerged in critical condition after weeks without food or water. Many of these miners were undocumented workers from Mozambique and other Southern African countries, and their deaths represent a gross display of state neglect. SAFTU argues that the South African government’s failure to uphold the fundamental right to life, as guaranteed in the country’s Constitution, is a direct violation of its responsibilities. The Constitution protects the right to life for all individuals within South Africa’s borders, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. Allowing anyone, citizen or undocumented immigrant, to starve to death in such inhumane conditions is an unconscionable breach of this right.

The union has also condemned the government’s insensitive response, particularly remarks made by the Minister in the Presidency, who likened the operation to “smoking them out.” SAFTU sees this as a demonstration of the government’s indifference toward human life, especially considering that similar rhetoric was used by President Ramaphosa in 2012, when he referred to striking miners as “dastardly criminals” and called for “concomitant action,” which resulted in the Marikana massacre. SAFTU draws attention to the government’s hypocrisy, noting that while it has condemned the use of food as a weapon in international conflicts, it stands accused of employing the same brutal tactics within South Africa. Furthermore, the union criticizes the Minister of Minerals and Energy, who, despite being a former mineworker and union leader, showed a lack of urgency and failed to visit the site until after the bodies had been recovered.

SAFTU has provided clarity on the facts surrounding the tragedy, disputing misinformation from government officials. The only possible way out of Shaft 11 was through a community-operated structure using ropes, which took nearly an hour per miner to traverse. While there was an exit route via Shaft 10, it required a 37-hour crawl, an impossible feat for miners who were already weakened by dehydration and hunger. Claims that miners could have exited through other shafts, such as Margaret Shaft 5, have been debunked as false, as these shafts are not connected to Shaft 11. Despite knowing these facts, the government took no action, allowing the miners to perish.

The Stilfontein tragedy mirrors the Marikana massacre, in which 34 miners were killed by police in a premeditated act of violence. In Stilfontein, however, hunger was used as a weapon to achieve a similarly deadly outcome. The loss of 59 workers’ lives, with the death toll expected to rise, highlights the government’s continued disregard for the value of black life. SAFTU called for accountability, stating that if post-mortem results confirm that starvation was the cause of death, the government officials responsible must be held accountable. The union stresses that South Africa is not a “banana republic” where the state can act without consequences, and it will continue to demand justice as required by both the Constitution and international law.

SAFTU, in a media statement, said it stands in solidarity with the survivors and the families of the deceased, vowing to advocate for the rights of all workers, regardless of their legal status, and for a government that respects human dignity. The union reaffirms that the right to life is non-negotiable and will not rest until justice is served.