South African police launch hunt for alleged illegal mining ‘kingpin’

Escape of James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known as Tiger, described as an ‘embarrassment’

South African police are hunting an alleged “kingpin” of illegal mining after he escaped from custody following a rescue operation last week in which 78 bodies were brought out of an illicit goldmine.

James Neo Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national known as Tiger, has been accused by other illegal miners of being a ringleader who was allegedly responsible for assaults, tortures and deaths underground, as well as keeping food from others, the South African Police Service said.

Topics

South Africa police: Officers let ringleader in illegal gold mine disaster escape

South African police say a suspected illegal gold mining ringleader escaped from custody with help from police officers about a week after resurfacing from a disused mine in South Africa where 246 ...
ABC News - 6h
South African police say ringleader in illegal gold mining disaster allowed to escape by officers

Yahoo News - 6h
South Africa police launch manhunt for illegal mining 'kingpin'

Yahoo News - 8h
Why the gold boom is causing a surge in illegal mining

Gold exports from Africa more than doubled between 2012 and 2022 from 243 metric tons to 609 metric tons.
CNBC - 2d
'Mammoth task' to identify South Africa mine victims, police say

Yahoo News - 4d
Dozens of Dead Pulled From Illegal South African Gold Mine After Standoff

The prospectors were trapped underground for months as police, on orders from South Africa’s government, attempted to starve them out.
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Relatives wait for news as body bags hauled from South African mine

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100 people reportedly dead in South African mine as rescues continue

Arguing that the miners had entered the mine without permission, authorities reportedly cracked down by cutting off their access to food and water.
CBS News - 6d
Rescuers bring out survivors and dead from a South African mine as hundreds remain trapped

Yahoo News - 6d

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