Keely Goodall19 June 2025 | 6:58
Miner trapped at Stilfontein saw colleagues eat bodies to survive
The miners trapped at Stilfontein resorted to horrifying measures to stay alive.
702’s Bongani Bingwa speaks with GroundUp Deputy Editor Barbara October.
Listen below:
Zama Zama Patrick Ntsokolo was among those trapped underground in Stilfontein after police from Operation Vala Umgodi blocked deliveries to illegal miners.
Whilst underground for 18 days, he saw colleagues eating cockroaches and dead bodies to survive.
“You can only imagine the desperation of miners at that time to get to the point of eating parts of dead bodies.”
- Barbara October, Deputy Editor - GroundUp
Ntsokolo is prepared to testify at the upcoming hearings of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) but says he has not yet been approached.
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A date for the hearings has not been announced.
Read the full report from Groundup.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.