More unclaimed bodies of Stilfontein illegal miners given pauper's burials
File: This aerial view shows an open mine shaft where artisanal miners get access to the mine in Stilfontein. AFP
STILFONTEIN - The people of Khuma, activists and civil organisations are calling for accountability for the deaths of illegal miners in Stillfontein shafts.
Scores of unidentified Zama-Zamas have been buried as paupers. More are expected to meet the same fate later this month.
Reporter Bafedile Moerane was there when residents held a memorial service and cleansing ceremony at the shafts.
Seventy-eight bodies were pulled out of these shafts in January, following court battles. Organisations went to court to try to get aid to miners underground, and to force government to speed up their evacuation.
Twenty-five bodies were positively identified and buried. Thirty others so far have been buried without anyone identifying them.
The SA Human Rights Commission has established an inquiry into the deaths at Stilfontein. The commission will be sitting soon to hear stakeholders' stories.
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