In a significant operation, South African police announced on Sunday the arrest of 225 illegal miners who emerged from an abandoned mine shaft after facing severe shortages of food and water. The miners, locally known as “zama zamas,” which translates to “those who try” in Zulu, were forced to resurface from the site situated in Orkney, a town renowned for its gold mining activities.
The police spokesperson reported that the miners had no choice but to exit the shaft due to conditions of starvation and dehydration. Authorities had implemented measures to block the routes previously used by accomplices to deliver vital supplies, effectively trapping the miners underground. As the situation unfolded, police emphasized their commitment to monitoring the abandoned mine shafts, anticipating that additional illegal miners may also resurface in the near future.
A statement issued late Saturday indicated that the 225 miners apprehended are likely part of a much larger group, with estimates suggesting that hundreds, if not up to a thousand, illegal miners remain trapped underground. Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, the Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, revealed that since December 2023, more than 13,691 suspected illegal miners have been arrested across seven provinces in the country.
In addition to the arrests, Sibiya highlighted the significant seizures made during these operations, including R5 million (approximately $283,000) in cash and uncut diamonds valued at R32 million (around $1.8 million). The ongoing issue of illegal mining continues to pose challenges in South Africa, where thousands of miners, many hailing from other countries, operate in perilous conditions. Their presence has increasingly frustrated legitimate mining companies and has been viewed by local residents as a catalyst for crime and social unrest in their communities.
