
South African authorities have launched on January 20 a manhunt for James Neo Tshoaeli, a notorious gangster known as “Tiger,” and are investigating how he managed to escape custody.
Tshoaeli, a Lesotho national, is suspected of leading an illegal gold mining operation. He was among hundreds of miners trapped in an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, which had been under siege for months by police attempting to arrest them. The siege ended last week with a state-sponsored rescue operation, which resulted in the retrieval of 248 miners and 78 bodies from the mine.
While three other suspected gang leaders have been taken into custody, Tshoaeli was notably absent from the police holding cells after the rescue. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that Tshoaeli had been freed under suspicious circumstances, stating that investigations are underway to identify the police officers who aided in his escape between the mine and the local police station. Authorities also confirmed that Tshoaeli was not listed in police records or admitted to a local hospital for medical care, raising further questions about his disappearance.
Tshoaeli is accused of not only orchestrating illegal mining operations but also being responsible for the abuse and deaths of miners working under his control. Police allege that he and other gang leaders hoarded food and water during the siege while those around them perished from starvation. With thousands of people involved in gang-run illegal mining across the country, Tshoaeli’s escape has intensified scrutiny of police corruption and the ongoing issue of illicit gold mining in South Africa.