Criminal Networks Expand Around Abandoned Mines
Illegal mining in South Africa has become increasingly associated with organized criminal networks operating in abandoned or inactive mine shafts. Thousands of informal miners—often referred to locally as zama zamas—extract gold and other minerals using rudimentary equipment while working under the control of criminal syndicates. Authorities estimate that tens of thousands of illegal miners operate across several provinces, generating billions of dollars in illicit mineral trade and posing significant risks to worker safety, infrastructure, and nearby communities.
Government Deploys Troops to Restore Security
In response to escalating violence linked to illegal mining and gang activity, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to support police operations in key regions such as Gauteng and the Western Cape. The deployment aims to dismantle criminal networks controlling illegal mining operations and to stabilize communities affected by gang violence and illicit mineral extraction. Officials described organized crime linked to illegal mining as a major threat to economic stability and public security.
Implications for Governance and Mining Legitimacy
The expansion of illegal mining highlights broader governance challenges affecting the legitimacy of the mining sector. Criminal control of mineral extraction undermines tax revenues, damages infrastructure, and erodes public trust in regulatory institutions. For legitimate mining operators, the situation complicates the broader social license landscape, as community safety concerns, environmental impacts, and weak enforcement mechanisms increasingly influence perceptions of the industry’s ability to operate responsibly.