Sinkholes, scarred land and scapegoats: the scourge of illegal gold mining in Johannesburg
There is no end in sight for the drivers of illegal mining, while police action appears ineffective
TL;DR
- Illegal mining activity, known as 'zama zamas,' has increased due to soaring gold prices and abandoned mine shafts.
- Police efforts to combat illegal mining are often perceived as ineffective against the large number of participants.
- Drivers of illegal mining include poverty, unemployment, corruption, and mining companies failing to seal abandoned shafts.
- Experts suggest formal industrial mining is a larger cause of sinkholes than illegal mining activities.
- Violence in mining areas is often attributed to gangs controlling access rather than the illegal miners themselves.