SABC News reports that illegal miners around Kimberley in the Northern Cape will continue mining without interruptions from the police and mining houses, while awaiting their mining permits.  

This was the outcome of a meeting held between representatives of the illegal miners (known as zama zamas), the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and Black First Land First (BLF).  The meeting took place after the arrest of the illegal miners' leaders last week following an altercation with the police and mining company, Ekapa Mining, which wanted them to vacate the land they were mining on.  BLF leader Andile Mngxitama hailed the meeting as a success, saying giant mining houses, including De Beers, were the ones without rights to mine on any land in the country.  He went on to say:  “So, as far as the continuation of production, nothing stops.  Our people must continue.  The police must stay away and we're waiting for confirmation of these rights through the permit system."

• Read this report by Puleng Modupe in full at SABC News

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