The illegal gold mining industry in South Africa is largely controlled by gangs, particularly from Lesotho, and poses significant risks to miners, many of whom are trafficked from neighboring countries.

Tshoaeli, also known as 'Tiger,' is accused of serious crimes, including involvement in deaths, assaults, and torture of miners, with police citing witness accounts and video evidence to support these claims.

South African police are actively searching for James Neo Tshoaeli, an alleged kingpin of illegal mining, who escaped custody during a rescue operation that recovered 78 bodies from an illicit goldmine.

Described as an 'embarrassment' by police, Tshoaeli's escape has prompted authorities to investigate officials who may have aided him, with police commissioner Patrick Asaneng promising serious consequences for those involved.

These illegal miners, known as zama zamas, are drawn to abandoned mines and are estimated to number around 30,000, producing approximately 10% of the country's gold output.

Survivor accounts from the recent rescue operation reveal that many illegal miners faced starvation and illness after police cut off their food and water supplies, leading to dire conditions underground.

Activists and relatives of the deceased miners have criticized the government, accusing it of responsibility for a 'massacre' due to the miners' inability to resurface out of fear of arrest and starvation.

The rescue operation, which was officially declared complete last week, confirmed no more survivors or bodies were left underground, although concerns persist about potential undiscovered bodies in another shaft.

In response, South Africa's finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, stated that the state should not be blamed for the miners' deaths, as they voluntarily engaged in illegal activities.

The Stilfontein mine, located 145 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, has now been cleared of both bodies and surviving miners, according to police reports.

Reports indicate that some miners believed there was food underground, but it was hoarded by gang leaders, who are blamed for the miners' deaths due to starvation and dehydration.

The identification of the 78 recovered bodies is complicated by the fact that many were undocumented migrants, highlighting the challenges faced in addressing the crisis surrounding illegal mining.