South African police are intensifying the search for a Lesotho gang leader known as Tiger who is suspected of running illegal gold mining in Stilfontein, according to Africanews.
The manhunt followed the discovery last week of 78 bodies of miners who died in the mines. Authorities said Tiger escaped from custody during a police operation with the help of corrupt officials.
The operation ended with the rescue of 246 miners, many of whom were seriously exhausted. Police accused gang leaders of stockpiling food whereas ordinary miners were starving.
Illegal gold mining in South Africa, largely controlled by gangs from Lesotho, is a dangerous and unregulated industry. Thousands of miners, many trafficked from neighbouring countries, risk their lives in depleted mines.
Police plan to catch Tiger and dismantle the networks exploiting desperate workers in one of South Africa’s most dangerous underground industries.
