Lily Mine families vow to remain at campsite until loved ones are retrieved

The families of the three Lily Mine workers buried alive in 2016 say they are prepared to camp at the site for another decade to pressure the government into retrieving the remains of their loved ones.

On Thursday marks a decade since the catastrophic collapse at the Lily Mine near Barberton, Mpumalanga. Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda were trapped in a lamp room when a crown pillar gave way, dragging their container underground.

Seeking justice and closure, the families established a permanent protest camp outside the mine in 2019. Despite the harsh conditions, they maintain that abandoning the site is not an option.

Family spokesperson Harry Mazibuko highlighted the gruelling reality of their daily lives at the camp, emphasising that their presence is driven by necessity rather than choice.

"These are the structures where our mothers, our parents, our fellow South Africans are sleeping," Mazibuko said. "In cold weather, there are snakes here, there's a lot of hazards, there's no running water, there's no toilets and so forth. It's a wilderness and we are not here by choice."

The occupation began on April 30, 2019, triggered by reports of illegal mining activity at the site. While others sought fortune, the families sought their kin.

"We decided collectively with some community members to join them," Mazibuko explained regarding the initial move onto the property. "But us not looking for gold, looking for Yvonne, Pretty and Solomon."

As the decade mark passes, the families remain steadfast in their bid to pressure the government to help retrieve the remains.