The search for James "Tiger" Neo Tshoaeli, a 42-year-old alleged leader of illegal mining operations in South Africa, continues as police struggle to track him down. After being arrested for his involvement in the illegal mining activities at an abandoned gold mine near Stilfontein, where 78 corpses were found buried underground, Tiger supposedly escaped custody as four officers claimed to aid his flight are currently out on bail, leaving authorities searching in vain for the fugitive.
To learn more about Tiger's background, we journey to his hometown of Mokhotlong, Lesotho, where his family has not heard from him in over eight years. During our visit, we spoke to his mother, Mampho Tshoaeli, and younger brother, Thabiso. While his brother chose a life as a shepherd, Tiger pursued work in the illegal mining sector in South Africa after the death of their father. His mother spoke of the worry she felt when he first ventured underground, recalling that he had once dreamed of becoming a policeman.
In 2017, Tiger left Lesotho with his then-wife and has been out of touch since their separation. Initially, he had provided financial support to his family through his earnings from illegal mining, but his mother's worries have now deepened with his fugitive status.
Many label Tiger as a key player in the illegal mining scene, but some of his acquaintances, like Ayanda, assert he was more of a mid-level supervisor than a ringleader. Researcher Makhotla Sefuli discusses the layered structure of the illegal mining network, indicating that the true leaders remain far from the mines, having strong political connections and financial resources.
The tragedy of the situation becomes more apparent in the case of Supang Khoaisanyane, whose body was discovered in the same abandoned mine. His family recounts how his desire to support them led him into illegal mining, highlighting the dire economic situation in Lesotho, where unemployment rates soar, especially among the youth.
Upon investigating the aftermath of the police crackdown on illegal miners, it's revealed that authorities restricted food and water access, leading to suffering among those trapped underground. Supang's relatives were only informed of his tragic fate long after he had perished while trying to secure a better future for his family.
As his family mourns his loss, they grapple with the reality of the illegal mining circumstances that drove men like Tiger and Supang into desperation. Meanwhile, the search for Tiger continues, leaving his mother and brother in a painful limbo, hoping for news yet fearing the worst.
