KRM 320 B Study unit 4
Erin Polyblank
STUDY UNIT 4: ILLEGAL MINING
INTRODUCTION
Illegal artisanal mining in South Africa is among the most lucrative and violent
on the African Continent.
Illegal mining is prevalent in six provinces:
1. Gauteng.
2. Free State.
3. North West.
4. Northern Cape.
5. Mpumalanga.
6. Limpopo.
Illegal mining is a crime largely committed by foreign nationals who are in the
country illegally.
Over 6‚000 disused gold‚ diamond‚ chrome and platinum mines spread across
South Africa (vast area).
o In some cases, a complete takeover of mines occurs, where people operate
“closed” mines without licenses.
Zama Zamas: Members of, or associated with, criminal syndicates.
o They are not homogenous groupings.
o Zulu saying, meaning either ‘take a chance’ or ‘try your luck’
There are an estimated 30 000 illegal miners colloquially known as zama
zamas, who operate in ownerless and disused mines in South Africa.
o In some cases, they infiltrate active mines.
OVERVIEW
Zama Zamas identify closed or vulnerable mines and often blast their way
into the mine from the top and abseil into the old mines using rope.
Rough estimates of the outposts suggest that the lost gold production of
billions a year, making South Africa one of the biggest sources of illicit gold in
Africa.
o Not only gold but many other metals and minerals are mined like platinum,
chrome, zinc and copper (Used for electric/technological products)
State loses millions of Rand in tax revenue.
1
, KRM 320 B Study unit 4
Erin Polyblank
The true cost of illegal mining activity is probably incalculable and also
includes damage to public and private infrastructure caused by vandalism or
poor mining practices, as well as the costs of security upgrades undertaken
by mining companies to address illegal breaches.
While most Zama Zama’s are found in closed mines around Johannesburg, in
recent years the miners have also gained access to active mines around
Johannesburg and other Provinces.
o Organised criminal syndicates often run these operations which causes
considerable financial losses and security headaches.
o Competing syndicates use firearms to protect their area and against
security.
Working as a Zama Zama is very dangerous.
o Turf wars between miners, unregulated blasting, rock slides, and mining
accidents occur on a daily basis.
o One must also be willing to live underground without sunlight for months.
o The violence and insecurity caused by criminality associated with illegal
mining makes some mining areas in South Africa more chaotic and conflict
ridden than mine sites elsewhere in Africa.
o More miners die in mining accidents that are neither reported or from
which bodies are never recovered
Other crimes like slave labour, human trafficking, land degradation and
deforestation are associated with illegal mining.
o Sex trafficking of young women is common as the illegal miners use them
as sex slaves.
The immense growth of illegal mining and its complexity has forced mine
security personnel and law enforcement to adapt as traditional security
measures become obsolete.
o The sophistication requires an exponential increase in cooperation and
collaboration among mines, private security companies, law enforcement,
the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS), third-party suppliers and various
other government departments.
o As well as to commit far more resources to tackling the problem as well as
political will.
o The most effective way to mitigate the threat is to address all levels within
the criminal value chain simultaneously.
2
Erin Polyblank
STUDY UNIT 4: ILLEGAL MINING
INTRODUCTION
Illegal artisanal mining in South Africa is among the most lucrative and violent
on the African Continent.
Illegal mining is prevalent in six provinces:
1. Gauteng.
2. Free State.
3. North West.
4. Northern Cape.
5. Mpumalanga.
6. Limpopo.
Illegal mining is a crime largely committed by foreign nationals who are in the
country illegally.
Over 6‚000 disused gold‚ diamond‚ chrome and platinum mines spread across
South Africa (vast area).
o In some cases, a complete takeover of mines occurs, where people operate
“closed” mines without licenses.
Zama Zamas: Members of, or associated with, criminal syndicates.
o They are not homogenous groupings.
o Zulu saying, meaning either ‘take a chance’ or ‘try your luck’
There are an estimated 30 000 illegal miners colloquially known as zama
zamas, who operate in ownerless and disused mines in South Africa.
o In some cases, they infiltrate active mines.
OVERVIEW
Zama Zamas identify closed or vulnerable mines and often blast their way
into the mine from the top and abseil into the old mines using rope.
Rough estimates of the outposts suggest that the lost gold production of
billions a year, making South Africa one of the biggest sources of illicit gold in
Africa.
o Not only gold but many other metals and minerals are mined like platinum,
chrome, zinc and copper (Used for electric/technological products)
State loses millions of Rand in tax revenue.
1
, KRM 320 B Study unit 4
Erin Polyblank
The true cost of illegal mining activity is probably incalculable and also
includes damage to public and private infrastructure caused by vandalism or
poor mining practices, as well as the costs of security upgrades undertaken
by mining companies to address illegal breaches.
While most Zama Zama’s are found in closed mines around Johannesburg, in
recent years the miners have also gained access to active mines around
Johannesburg and other Provinces.
o Organised criminal syndicates often run these operations which causes
considerable financial losses and security headaches.
o Competing syndicates use firearms to protect their area and against
security.
Working as a Zama Zama is very dangerous.
o Turf wars between miners, unregulated blasting, rock slides, and mining
accidents occur on a daily basis.
o One must also be willing to live underground without sunlight for months.
o The violence and insecurity caused by criminality associated with illegal
mining makes some mining areas in South Africa more chaotic and conflict
ridden than mine sites elsewhere in Africa.
o More miners die in mining accidents that are neither reported or from
which bodies are never recovered
Other crimes like slave labour, human trafficking, land degradation and
deforestation are associated with illegal mining.
o Sex trafficking of young women is common as the illegal miners use them
as sex slaves.
The immense growth of illegal mining and its complexity has forced mine
security personnel and law enforcement to adapt as traditional security
measures become obsolete.
o The sophistication requires an exponential increase in cooperation and
collaboration among mines, private security companies, law enforcement,
the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS), third-party suppliers and various
other government departments.
o As well as to commit far more resources to tackling the problem as well as
political will.
o The most effective way to mitigate the threat is to address all levels within
the criminal value chain simultaneously.
2
