Latest News & Developments
zama zamas
Zamimpilo settlement residents urge government intervention as illegal mining violence rises
Residents of the Zamimpilo settlement are calling for immediate action as violence linked to illegal mining escalates, threatening their safety and livelihoods.
Zamimpilo Settlement residents demand action as violence from illegal mining escalates
Residents of Zamimpilo Settlement plead for government intervention following the tragic death of Jerome Lottering amid violent clashes with illegal miners.
Minors found underground as police raid illegal mining site in Mpumalanga
Fourteen suspects were arrested during a police raid at the Dukes old mineshaft in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumalanga, as part of Operation Vala Umgodi. Police seized explosives, dagga, and mining equipment. Four minors were found underground, with a 12-year-old placed in a place of safety. The suspects face multiple charges and are due in court on May 5.
Five illegal miners arrested in Ekurhuleni crackdown, mining equipment seized
Five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested in Germiston, Duduza, and KwaThema during an EMPD operation targeting illegal mining in Ekurhuleni. Officers also seized equipment including Phendukas and gas cylinders.
Blood gold bonanza: Inside South Africa’s shadow mining empire where crime, corruption, and desperation strike it rich
The rise of illegal mining in the country has raised human rights concerns and questions about who ultimately benefits.
Hundreds of Stilfontein miners face deportation as legal battle continues after Operation Vala Umgodi
More than five months after Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein, police confirm 156 cases involving 1 831 suspects remain pending. While over 1 000 miners have been found guilty on charges ranging from illegal mining to immigration violations, human rights organisations argue these are 'crimes of poverty' that could be resolved through proper regulation of abandoned mines.
Police arrest 19 in major crackdown on illegal mining in Limpopo and Mpumalanga
South African police arrested 19 suspects during weekend operations targeting illegal mining in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The arrests included undocumented foreign nationals, suspected illegal miners, and individuals with gold-bearing material. A separate serious crime arrest was also made in connection with a rape case, as authorities continue efforts to combat crime and illegal mining activities.
The critical state of SA's abandoned mines
South Africa's mining industry faces a crisis, with over 6,000 abandoned mines posing safety risks and economic challenges for communities. Explore the implications of these derelict sites and the urgent need for action.
Portfolio Committee criticised for silence on Stilfontein tragedy
The committee has been called on to immediately exercise its legislative oversight functions and convene an urgent public hearing to hold the department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources accountable for its alleged failures.
Questions over Mineral and Petroleum Resources committee’s silence on Stilfontein deaths
The organisations called on the portfolio committee to immediately exercise its legislative oversight functions.
Questions over Mineral and Petroleum Resources committee’s silence on Stilfontein deaths
The organisations called on the portfolio committee to immediately exercise its legislative oversight functions.
Zama zamas victims of an exploitative system
The South African government’s approach - “smoking out” miners and branding them as criminals - fails to address the root causes of the crisis. Instead, it exacerbates their suffering, reducing them to obstacles in the state’s pursuit of control over mining resources, writes Dr Jonathan Mark Hoskins.
Zama zamas: police brutality won’t end it
Horrendous images of the emaciated figures of the living and the dead as they were brought to the surface at Stilfontein show the failure of Operation Vala Umgodi
Suggestions that Tiger is mining kingpin indicate a cover-up - Giwusa
The union says Tshoaeli is a red herring, conveniently used by the police to deflect from their own complicity in the deaths of hundreds of people.
Expert warns against reopening Stilfontein Mine as residents push for jobs
Residents of Khuma want the abandoned mine reopened to create jobs and boost the local economy, but mining expert Ingrid Watson warns that financial and safety concerns make this unlikely. While illegal mining has supported local businesses, it has also fueled crime and violence. Experts suggest alternative job creation strategies, but residents remain frustrated, calling for government action.
'They called them troublemakers, but they were our survival': Stilfontein struggles after illegal mining crackdown
In Stilfontein, the government’s crackdown on illegal mining was meant to restore order. But for residents like Rita de Sonsa, the absence of the miners has brought economic despair and uncertainty. As businesses crumble and hunger rises, the community is left questioning whether the crackdown did more harm than good.
Community demands justice as ‘Tiger’ evades capture after mine tragedy
The community of Stilfontein demands accountability for the deaths of illegal miners as the alleged kingpin ‘Tiger’ remains on the run.
Stilfontein mine rescue: how SA's innovative rescue technology aided in operation
Discover how South Africa's innovative Mobile Mines Rescue Winder played a pivotal role in rescuing 246 miners from the Stilfontein mine tragedy, showcasing the nation's engineering capabilities.
Police warned of consequences for ignoring calls to transfer Zama zamas to hospitals
Sebei warned that their conditions will worsen if there are further delays.
Report claims Zama zamas syndicates sell products to legitimate companies and fund political campaigns
A study conducted by Bench Marks Foundation, a religious non-profit organisation that monitors companies in South Africa and in the region, found that licensed mining companies purchase gold from illegal miners.
Police bust illegal mining and drug ring, seize chrome worth over R1 million
Major crackdown in Limpopo leads to the arrest of 20 suspects for illegal mining and drug dealing, with police seizing chrome valued at over R1 million.
Reflecting on South Africa's mining safety: Lessons from past disasters
South Africa grapples with a legacy of mining disasters, calling for urgent reforms to ensure worker safety.
“Unfazed” by EFF threats, Kunene stands firm on death penalty for Stilfontein zama-zamas
PA Deputy President Kenny Kunene remains defiant after sharing controversial social media posts calling for capital punishment for illegal miners, prompting EFF to threaten human rights commission action.
Spat continues between police and union over allegations regarding blasting of shaft 10 at Stilfontein mine
The union wants police to allow a public inspection of the shaft.
EFF to report Kunene to SAHRC over “slaughter and skinning” of zama-zamas on X
The EFF is set to report Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene to the SA Human Rights Commission over a graphic image on X that threatened illegal miners.