Miningmx reports that Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, said on Thursday that the increased incidence of illegal mining in SA, perpetrated by people referred to locally as ‘zama zamas’, required the support of the country’s military.

“It is a tremendous problem. It is very unfortunate that it’s a problem that only gets recognised for the reasons of some young girls being raped. That’s a tragic incident in its own right,” he commented. There was a national outcry after eight models were raped on 28 July when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump near Krugersdorp was attacked by heavily armed men. A mob subsequently attacked alleged illegal miners. “The fact that illegal mining is now very visible is in my mind a good outcome,” said Froneman of the outcry. “We should declare a state of emergency and should involve the military,” he stated, adding that intervention was required at a high level owing to the sophisticated nature of illegal mining activities. “We have requested special assistance from the police. It won’t be solved by dealing with the obvious issue of illegal miners; we have to address the syndicates and deal with this internationally, and stop focusing on individuals that are abused at the lower end of illegal mining,” Froneman maintained. He went on to comment: “It happens because of a lack of jobs. It’s a poverty issue. It is the manifestation of lower economic growth. It is a big issue and much bigger than the poor illegal miner we continue to arrest”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx

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