Of the 87 dead, only two have been identified, police said Thursday, explaining that the fact that many of them were undocumented migrants had complicated the process.
“We believe the government’s hands are covered in blood,” Magnificent Mndebele of the group Joint Action on Mining Affected Communities (Makua) told the BBC.
He claimed that the miners were not warned of what was about to happen before the police operation began.
In the past two months, Makua has been at the forefront of various legal battles initiated to force the government to first allow the supplies and then carry out the rescue operation.
The government’s accusation echoes earlier claims by families who said authorities killed their loved ones.
They took a tough stance after intensifying the operation. In November, one minister, Khumbudzo Ntschauheni, made the infamous statement during a press briefing that they were going to “smoke them out”.
The state refused to allow the delivery of food or anyone to help get the miners, only after several successful lawsuits.
In November, small portions of instant corn and water made their way into the mine, but in a court filing, one miner said it was not enough for the hundreds of people below, many of whom were too weak to even chew and swallow them.
More food was delivered in December, but again this could not sustain the people.
Given that the operation to retrieve the men and bodies lasted just three days, Mr Mndebele finds it hard to see why it could not have been done sooner when it was clear there was a problem.
“We are disappointed with our government, frankly, because this help came too late.”
Although the government has yet to officially respond to the allegations, police have vowed to continue wider operations to clear the country of unused landmines until May this year.
Speaking to reporters in Stilfontein on Tuesday, Mining Minister Gwede Montashe was unapologetic. He said the government would step up its fight against illegal mining, which he described as a crime and an “attack on the economy”.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was a little more conciliatory on Thursday.
“I understand and accept that this is an emotional issue. Everyone wants to judge … but it will help all of us South Africans to wait for the pathologists to do and complete their work,” he said.
The police justified their actions by saying that providing the miners with food would “allow crime to flourish”.
Illegal miners are accused of facilitating crime in the communities where they work.
A number of stories have been published in local media linking zama zamas to various rapes and murders.
But for Mkwai, who has put his own safety ahead of helping the miners, the people at Stilfontein Mine were just trying to make a living.
“People were abseiling 2km and risking their lives to put food on the table for their families.”
He said he wanted the government to issue licenses to artisanal miners forced into abandoned mines due to South Africa’s high unemployment rate.
“If your children are hungry, you won’t think twice about going there because you have to feed them. You will risk your life to put food on the table.”
