S-Africa grapples with major crisis stemming from illegal mining networks

(MENAFN)
South Africa is grappling with a major crisis stemming from illegal mining networks, particularly at the Stilfontein mine in the North West Province, where a six-month standoff occurred between authorities and thousands of illegal miners. In August of the previous year, police took action to close down all but one of the mine’s shafts, warning miners that they would be arrested as soon as they emerged. This marked part of a broader government initiative, Operation Vala Umgodi, launched in December 2023, aiming to clamp down on illegal mining, also known locally as Zama Zama operations.

The abandoned mines, which were once productive, have been overtaken by gangs, often led by former mine workers. These illegal miners, either coerced or forced into the trade, spend months working underground to harvest minerals, which are then sold on the black market. In 2024, this illicit mining cost the South African economy an estimated $3.2 billion. As part of Operation Vala Umgodi, the police blocked various mine entry points and cut off access to food and water supplies, trying to flush out the illegal miners.

Despite the government’s efforts, the toll of these operations has been significant. Only 26 of the 2,000 miners who worked at Stilfontein were South African, with many others coming from Mozambique, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. By January 2024, police had completed the operation, rescuing 246 miners but recovering 78 bodies. Some miners chose to stay underground due to their immigration status, which complicated rescue operations.

South Africa’s mining industry has a long and complicated history, beginning in 1852 with copper mining. The discovery of large diamonds in the 1860s spurred a rush to the region, with the 21-carat Eureka Diamond and the 83-carat Star of South Africa establishing the country as a mining powerhouse. The infamous Big Hole mine in Kimberley, where up to 50,000 miners worked, produced millions of carats of diamonds but also led to exploitation and racial disparities, with thousands of black workers dying from dangerous working conditions.

Post-World War II, the mining industry continued to grow, with new minerals like platinum contributing to the country's development. However, mining was marred by the apartheid regime, which relied on cheap black labor and maintained a stark divide between a small group of white mine owners and the large numbers of black workers. The industry also saw violent confrontations, such as the 1946 strike where police killed 12 striking workers demanding better wages.

Today, while South Africa’s mining industry remains critical to the economy, illegal mining has become a massive issue, blending crime, corruption, and the desperate pursuit of wealth in the shadow of the country’s gold legacy.

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