Zama Zamas are a ticking time bomb

Illegal mining, driven by zama zamas — illegal or artisanal miners who exploit abandoned or active mines ~ has become one of the most urgent threats to South Africas public safety, national security, and economic stability.

- SIFISO MAHLANGU [e-mail]

With thousands of miners working in secret underground shafts, the illicit activity is fueling crime, endangering communities, and severely damaging the environment.

The severity of the crisis was underscored in a recent raid at Sheba Gold Mine in Barberton, where nearly 500 illegal miners were arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi, a government initiative aimed at cracking down on illegal mining.

Authorities believe more than 1 000 zama zamas were operating in the mine before the operation began. Roughly 400 are still believed to be underground, resisting law enforcement efforts to bring them to the surface.

But Sheba is not an isolated case. Illegal mining is widespread across South Africa, particularly in areas rich in gold, platinum, and other minerals. Known hotspots include Doornkop Mine near Slovoville in Soweto, Randfontein, Krugersdorp, Barberton, Rustenburg, Welkom, Carletonville, the East Rand, and Bloemfontein in the Free State.