The hunt for alleged Stilfontein kingpin Tiger

No one in South Africa seems to know where the tiger is.

The 42 -year -old has escaped from the adjacent Lizoto, whose real name is James New Chawaili, in a police chase over the past four months.

She was detained after being accused of controlling illegal operations in an abandoned golden mine near Stilfontein in South Africa, where 78 underground bodies were discovered in January, and Tiger provided custody.

Four policemen, claimed that they helped in its outbreak, as an individual on bail and are waiting for the trial, but the authorities do not seem closer to learning the fugitive location.

We went to Lesoto to find out more about this man who is far and hear from those affected by the underground deaths.

Tiger is located near the city of Mokhotlong, five hours drive from the capital, MASERU, on the road that exceeds the mountains of the nation.

We visit his elderly mother, MAMPHO TSHOAELI, and his younger brother, Thabisu.

Unlike Tiger, Thabiso decided to stay at home and back for a living, rather than joining illegal miners, known as Zama Zamas, in South Africa.

None of them saw the tiger in eight years.

“He was a friendly child for all,” Mrs. Chueli remembers.

“It was peaceful even at school, his professors never complained. So he was generally a good person,” she says.

Thabisu, a five -year -old Tiger, says they used to take care of the family sheep when they were children.

“When we grew up, he wanted to be a policeman. This was his dream. But this never happened because when our father died, he had to become the head of the family.”

Tiger, who was 21 years old at the time, decided in the footsteps of his father and went to South Africa to work in a mine – but not in the official sector.

“It was difficult for me,” says his mother. “I was really anxious because he was still fragile and young at the time. Also because I was told to go to the mine, they used a temporary elevator.”

He would have returned when he got a vacation or Christmas. During that first period, like Zama Zama, his mother said he was the main provider of the family.

“We supported us a lot. He was supporting me, giving me everything, even his brothers. He was keen to have clothes and food.”

The last time he saw his family or heard from him in 2017 when he left Lesuto with his wife at the time. Soon after, the couple separated.

“I thought he might have married, and his second wife did not allow him to return home,” she said, unfortunately.

I was asking, “Where is my son? “

“The first time I heard that he was a bitter association in Stelvontein, my son told me. He came to my house carrying his phone and showed me news on social media and explained that they say he fled from the police.”

Police say that many illegal miners described it as one of the leaders of the Stilfontein episode.

His mother does not think that he could have been in this position and says that seeing his coverage was annoying.

“This hurts a lot because I think he might die there, or perhaps he already died, or if he is lucky to return home, perhaps I will not be here. I will be among the dead.”

Stilfontein, who just wants to be recognized as Inda, tells me that they used to share food and cigarettes before the supplies diminish.

He also doubts the “Ringleader” poster, saying that Tiger was the most middle administration.

“He was an underground coach, but he was not a great president. He was like the supervisor, someone who could manage the situation we were working in.”

Makhotla Sefuli believes that TIGER is unlikely to be at the STIGRENEIN mining union summit. These officials say they do not work underground.

“The illegal mining trade is similar to the pyramid with many levels. We always pay attention to the lower layer, and they are workers. They are underground.

“But there is a second layer … they provide money for illegal workers.

Then you have buyers … they buy [the gold] Among those who provide money to illegal miners.

At the top there are “some very powerful people”, with “proximity to senior politicians”. These people earn the most money, but they do not get their dirty hands in the mines.

SuPang Khoisanyane was one of those in the bottom of the pyramid and pushing his life.

The body of the 39 -year -old was among those who discovered in the abandoned gold mine in January. He, like many others who died, immigrated to South Africa.

Walking in his village, Boubti, in the Thaba Tsica area, feels that he was returning in time.

The journey there is full of obstacles.

After crossing a barely vibrant bridge enough enough to hold our car, we face a long road on unpaved mountain roads without safety barriers.

More than once he feels that we will not reach the top.

But when we do, the scene is primitive. Apparently did not touch modernity.

Dozens of small straw huts, their walls made of mountainst stone, and the transfer of circulating green hills.

Next to the house of the late Subang family is the uninterrupted house he was building for his wife and three children.

Unlike most housing in the village, the house is made of cement, but it lacks the ceiling, windows and doors.

Empty spaces are an unintended memorial for a man who wanted to help his family.

“He left the village because he was struggling,” his aunt Mabolukanj Khawisani told me.

Next to SuPang’s wife and one of his children lying on the ground, staring sadly in space.

“He was trying to find money in Stilfontein, to feed his family, and put some roofing on his home,” says Ms. Khuisanian.

The house was built with funds collected from a previous business trip to South Africa by SUPANG – a journey made by many Lesotho over the decades drawn by the richer neighbor’s chances.

His aunt adds that before leaving for the second time, three years ago, his chances of work at home were not present.

“It is very terrible here, and for this reason he left. Because here all you can do is work on short government projects. But you work for a short period and then that’s all.”

This non -coastal country – surrounded by South Africa – is one of the poorest in the world. The unemployment rate is 30 % but for young people, the rate is about 50 %, according to official numbers.

The Subang family says they did not realize that he was working as a bitter owner until a relative called them to say he died underground.

They thought he had been working in construction and had not heard of him since he left Boubti in 2022.

Ms. Joaisani says that during the phone call, they were told that what caused the death of most of the underground in Stelvonte was a lack of food and water. Many more than 240 who were rescued very sick came out.

Stilvontein tops the headlines of international newspapers late last year when the police carried out a new controversial strategy to eliminate illegal mining.

They restricted the flow of food and water in the mine in an attempt to “smoke” workers, said the South African Minister of Africa.

In January, the court order forced the government to launch a rescue operation.

The Subang family says they understood what he was doing was illegal, but they did not agree with how the authorities dealt with the situation.

His aunt says: “They tortured these people with hunger, and they were not allowed to send food and medicines. It is really sad that there was without a long time. We believe that this is what he ended his life.”

The family of the dead miner finally received his body and buried near his unbridled home.

But the mother of the tiger and her brother is still waiting for news about it. South African police say the search is continuing, although it is not clear whether they have been close to finding it.