GroundUp reports that the charges against five of the eight informal gold miners arrested in early March at a mine in Benoni were dropped on Thursday due to insufficient evidence.  

They were initially charged with illegal possession of gold, but the prosecution withdrew the case.  The case against the remaining three was postponed.  When the eight informal miners were arrested on 3 March, a fellow informal miner was shot dead by security.  New charges were brought against four of the accused for living in SA in contravention of immigration law.  All four pleaded guilty and were fined R800.  Their family members and friends paid the fines.

• A short report by Kimberly Mutandiro is at GroundUp

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page