'Informal miners burnt to death during police raid’ 22 October 2024

One of 50 informal miners who clashed with authorities at the Daggafontein Mine Dump near the Blesbokspruit River on 26 August is still lying in hospital being treated for severe burn wounds. During an Operation Vala Umgodi raid by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement, a fire swept through reeds commonly used by the illegal miners as an escape route. The miners allege the fire was started by the police. Police deny this. At least seven people have reportedly died, and a dozen other zama zamas were badly injured.

Speaking to GroundUp from his hospital bed, Livison Mativenga says, “All I want now is to survive and for justice to be served … We did not deserve to be burnt alive.” His older brother, Wilson, died in hospital a month ago from his injuries. Mativenga was unable to attend the funeral in Zimbabwe because of his skin grafting surgery. He was with his brother, selecting rocks they believed contained gold when the police, soldiers and metro police arrived. The brothers and their friend, Tinashe Masedze, fled to the river and hid in the long reeds. Suddenly, the reeds were alight, and the flames quickly spread to where they were. Mativenga managed to escape and was taken to the hospital with another miner, Happiness Marava. He later learnt that his brother, friend and Marava had all died.

…“Some of the victims, who are miners, have gone back to work even though they are in pain. They are now afraid to pursue the case because most of them are undocumented. This might mean the perpetrators will walk free.” Chair of the African Diaspora Global Network, Dr Vusimuzi Sibanda, believes the case is being covered up. “We are on the verge of launching a lawsuit. We are aware of the fact that the matter is being sidelined. Everyone is working on sweeping the matter under the carpet yet it’s one of the most gross human rights violations that we’ve seen,” he said