Opinion
‘Starving’ Miners Holed Up In Abandoned South African Shaft. How The Tragic World Of Zama Zama’s Is Claiming Lives In South Africa.
There’s a haunting irony in the name “zama zama.” It translates to “take a chance” in Zulu, but for thousands of desperate illegal miners in Stilfontein, South Africa, an abandoned mining shaft has become a tomb of desperation and tragedy. This is the world of the zama zama—illegal miners risking everything to scavenge gold from the remnants of abandoned mines. For some, it’s a chance at survival; for others, it’s a death sentence
Earlier this month, hundreds—some say thousands—of miners descended into an abandoned shaft in search of gold or mineral residues. Now, they are starving, cut off from food and water by police intent on forcing them to surface. The standoff between the authorities and these miners show not just the dangers of illegal mining, but also the systemic failures that force people into these perilous conditions.
A Desperate Gamble Underground
Authorities claim there may be hundreds of miners underground. Some local accounts put the number as high as 4,000. The South African government has taken a hard-line approach, blocking food and water deliveries in a bid to “smoke them out,” as one minister put it. This has drawn sharp criticism.
“There’s nothing left for someone to eat, to drink, or anything that can make a human being survive,” said Ayanda Ndabeni, a 35-year-old miner who was rescued from the shaft.
In the darkness below, survival has come down to unimaginable measures. Reports indicate miners have been eating toothpaste and drinking vinegar to stave off hunger. Volunteers and community members attempting to send supplies into the shaft have been met with resistance from the police.
The Cost of Survival
This underground world is not for the faint of heart. Illegal miners often remain below for weeks or even months, carving out a dangerous existence in the depths. Entire underground economies have sprung up, with food, cigarettes, and even cooked meals traded in exchange for the gold they manage to recover.
But not all of these miners are working independently. Many are tied to criminal syndicates, recruited into these networks by force or desperation. Their fear of surfacing is compounded by their undocumented status, leaving them trapped between the risk of arrest above and starvation below.
Community Pushback
The local community has not been silent. Volunteers, organized into groups of 50, have braved the depths to pull out survivors, one by one. The operation is grueling—each rescue takes over an hour, and conditions are treacherous.
“The government doesn’t care about the impact on the right to life of the illegal miners who remain beneath the surface—this is tantamount to murder,” said Lebogang Maiyane, one of the volunteers.
The trauma is palpable. Volunteers have reported pulling decomposing bodies from the mine, a harrowing experience that underscores the grim toll of this crisis.
The Bigger Picture
Illegal mining, or zama zama, costs South Africa’s economy hundreds of millions of dollars annually. But beyond the financial loss lies a deeper crisis: poverty, unemployment, and inequality have driven people to risk their lives in abandoned shafts.
With many mines closing and job opportunities dwindling, these miners have few alternatives. Undocumented migrants, in particular, are left with no safety net, forcing them into the hazardous underground world.
The situation also exposes the cracks in South Africa’s enforcement strategy. While blocking supplies may seem like a short-term solution, it does little to address the systemic issues that fuel illegal mining.
A recent court order has demanded that the police end restrictions on food and water, a move welcomed by community leaders. But it remains to be seen whether this will lead to meaningful change or simply prolong the cycle of desperation.
Meanwhile, dozens of volunteers continue their tireless efforts, hoisting survivors out of the shaft and bringing a semblance of humanity to a crisis that has seen too little of it.
Each rescue is painstaking, taking up to 45 minutes to hoist one miner to safety. Those who emerge are visibly weakened, some unable to speak or walk. Others remain too frail to be moved. The volunteers’ bravery is undeniable, but the situation remains grim.
“It’s not as easy as the police make it seem,” said Ms. Thabane, a community leader. “Some of them are fearing for their lives.”
The dire conditions underground are compounded by police tactics to block off entrances and cut supplies of food and water, part of the government’s Vala Umgodi (“Close the Hole”) operation aimed at curbing illegal mining.
But this isn’t just a law enforcement operation anymore. As Ms. Thabane aptly put it, “It is no longer about illegal miners—this is a humanitarian crisis.”
The Vicious Cycle of Illegal Mining
Illegal mining in South Africa isn’t just a crime; it’s a survival mechanism for thousands of people facing crushing poverty and unemployment.
“It’s the only way many of them know to put food on the table,” Thandeka Tom said, her voice heavy with emotion as she awaited news of her brother still trapped underground.
The police’s response to illegal mining has historically been harsh. Arrests are made, with locals sent to jail and undocumented migrants deported. But the borders remain porous, and within days, many deportees find their way back, reconnect with criminal syndicates, and resume mining.
This is the reality of zama zama—a shadowy economy driven by desperation, exploitation, and a lack of alternatives.
A Lucrative Yet Deadly Industry
Illegal mining is a multi-million-dollar business, feeding both local black markets and international demand for gold and diamonds. The government claims to have seized nearly 400 high-caliber firearms, thousands of bullets, and uncut diamonds since December, highlighting the criminal syndicates that profit from this dangerous trade.
The government’s efforts to crack down on illegal mining have also raised ethical questions. Blocking food and water to miners underground has drawn the ire of the South African Human Rights Commission, which has launched an investigation into whether these actions violate the miners’ right to life.
Community Frustrations and Police Failures
The tension between the police and local communities has boiled over. When Police Minister Senzo Mchunu visited Stilfontein on Friday, he was chased away by angry residents.
“They’re speaking from a point of privilege,” Tom said. “There’s a problem of unemployment in the country, and people are breaking the law as they try to put food on the table.”
The frustration is palpable. While authorities insist on arresting miners and dismantling syndicates, community members see these operations as attacks on people simply trying to survive.
The Final Words
As the rescue efforts continue, it’s clear this is more than a criminal issue. It’s a crisis of poverty, inequality, and systemic failure.
The South African Human Rights Commission’s investigation into police tactics is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. Sustainable solutions are needed to address the root causes of illegal mining, from creating employment opportunities to better regulating abandoned mine sites.
For now, Stilfontein remains a site of tragedy and resilience, a place where volunteers risk their lives to save others and where the lines between crime and survival blur in the face of desperation.
It is not just how to rescue the miners still underground—it’s how to ensure no one else is forced into the depths, risking their lives for a glimmer of hope in the dark.
For more information, this is what the South African govt has put on its website
Illegal mining
In June last year, our country woke up to the tragic news of the death of twenty people suspected of being illegal miners at an unused mine in Orkney, North West. Their premature death was because of an underground fire. This was not the first time that suspected illegal miners commonly known as ’zama zamas’ died in an abandoned mine.According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, there has been an increase in illegal mining in the county with miners risking their lives to mine in completely unsafe and hazardous conditions. They pay the ultimate price due to underground fires and fall of ground accidents.
These illegal activities have become fodder for crime syndicates who control mineshafts. In May last year, four illegal miners also died after a fight broke out at the Transvaal Gold Mining Estate in Dientjie in Mpumalanga.
Illegal mining has made a considerable dent in economy. The cost of illegal mining is estimated to be over R70 billion annually in gold alone and resulting in huge losses of revenue for both government and the mining sector.
Importantly, these illegal activities have a negative impact on the safety and health of surrounding communities. This also impacts on the overall wellbeing of the environment and is a risk to the sustainability of the mining industry.
Government is concerned about the practice of illegal mining and we are taking measures to put an end to it. In November last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 3,300 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel to support SAPS in their fight against illegal mining for a six-month period.
The SANDF deployment supports a multi-sectoral effort that brings together the SAPS, State Security Agency, Border Management Authority and the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy, Home Affairs, Justice and Constitutional Development, Environmental Affairs and others.
Furthermore, the National Coordination and Strategic Management Team (NCSMT), which was established in 2010 continues to co-ordinate government’s efforts to fight illegal mining and the trafficking of precious metals.
The NCSMT is made up of representatives from Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, South African Police Service, Intelligence Services and the Department of Home Affairs and ensures that those involved in illegal mining are arrested and prosecuted. Secondly, this multi-departmental body has prioritised promoting legitimate mining practices through the authorisation of mining permits.
This approach to regulate small-scale or artisan mining is in line with the African Mining Vision’s action plan which was adopted by African heads of state in 2009. The Action Plan includes creating a “mining sector that harnesses the potential of artisanal and small-scale mining to advance integrated and sustainable rural socio-economic development”.
We are encouraged that we have seen an increase in the number for the authorisation of mining permits. In 2018 alone, we had 500 applications.
In addition to NCSMT, government has established forums in Mpumalanga, Free State, Gauteng and Northern Cape to implement measures to eradicate illegal mining. These forums are made up of officials from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Service, Visible Policing and Crime Intelligence, as well as officials from the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, the Department of Home Affairs, Council for Geoscience, municipalities affected by these illegal activities, mining companies and organised labour.
These forums meet once a month to deliberate on possible measures that can be implemented to combat illegal mining and reports from these forums are submitted to the NCSMT.
While we are making progress, we understand that more needs to be done to overcome these illegal activities in mining. We need all South Africans and businesses to assist us by taking a stand against them. Let us act today and blow the whistle on illegal mining and if you are aware of it you can report it to the nearest police station.
Government remains steadfast in its resolve to deal with these activities that rob us of our mineral wealth. We welcome efforts by mining companies that are affected by illegal mining, such as strengthening access control and security measures.
We are confident that through our actions we will hold those who are involved to account and set a new path to grow the mining industry that benefits everyone.
