Illegal gold miners swarm Johannesburg township as police struggle to respond
The Guardian reported that dozens of illegal miners, known locally as zama zamas, turned up on a dirt road opposite a Johannesburg animal‑welfare charity in…
The Guardian reported that dozens of illegal miners, known locally as zama zamas, turned up on a dirt road opposite a Johannesburg animal‑welfare charity in late September. The influx follows a sharp rise in gold prices that has revived digging in abandoned mine shafts around Roodepoort, west of the city.
Cora Bailey, who has been treating injured animals in the surrounding townships since 1991, says she has been encountering the miners for decades, but the recent surge has been unprecedented. She runs the charity Claw (Community Led Animal Welfare) and now watches the miners work just across the road from her clinic.
Police action, according to the report, appears ineffective, with authorities unable to curb the growing number of shafts being exploited. The Guardian notes that the activity shows no sign of abating as long as gold prices remain high.
Why it matters
The rise in illegal mining underscores gaps in law enforcement and threatens both community safety and local wildlife.
Key details
- Location
- South Africa · Africa
- Reported by
- The Guardian
- First reported
- Key names
- Johannesburg, Cora Bailey, Roodepoort, Zulu
- Section
- Business
Sources
This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:
Read the full story at The GuardianSpotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced
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