The Times reports that illegal mining in SA is a multibillion-dollar transnational business empire with its own financial targets, line managers, security personnel and CEOs.
The playing field is spread over 6,000 disused gold, diamond, chrome and platinum mines across the country. With a workforce of up to 30,000 people, the operations of illegal mining syndicates run day and night. Many of the illegal miners are immigrants, often working in conditions reminiscent of slavery. Illegal mining has been identified as a national threat and a multi-agency team has been formed to co-ordinate government efforts to combat it, says the Chamber of Mines. With huge profit margins comes the need for enforcement - and often deadly reprisals. Since 2012 more than 300 illegal miners have died in clashes for control of mine shafts. Illegal East Rand miners claim that operations are run with enforcers "policing" the mining. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) wants illegal mining legalised "so that these small miners can play a role in the economy and pay tax."
- Read this report in full at BusinessLive
- Read too, 'There are no rules there': The life of a zama zama, at TimesLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page