South African authorities are escalating their search for a notorious Lesotho gang leader James Neo Tshoaeli, known as “Tiger,” who allegedly led illegal gold mining operations in Stilfontein. The intensified effort follows the grim discovery of 78 bodies last week, found in an abandoned mine where miners had endured months of harsh conditions underground.
During a recent police raid, “Tiger” managed to escape custody, reportedly with the help of corrupt officials. An investigation is currently underway to identify and hold accountable those who assisted in his escape.
The operation led to the rescue of 246 miners, many of whom were severely malnourished. Authorities have accused gang leaders, including “Tiger,” of hoarding food for themselves while leaving workers to suffer in inhumane conditions. Survivors have also linked “Tiger” to widespread violence, torture, and other criminal acts within the mine.

Illegal gold mining in South Africa, particularly in abandoned mines, is an unregulated and perilous industry, often controlled by gangs from neighboring Lesotho. Thousands of miners, many trafficked from neighboring countries, risk their lives in search of dwindling gold reserves. The operation in Stilfontein was one of the deadliest in a growing trend of underground mining disasters.
With mounting evidence against him, South African authorities are determined to capture “Tiger” and dismantle the criminal networks exploiting vulnerable workers in one of the country’s most dangerous underground industries.