Search
Welcome
  • Login
  • Register
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe here
Register Now
  • Login
  • Register
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
                       
Careers & Tenders
Newsletters
Subscribe
The Mail & Guardian
      SUBSCRIBE / Support independent journalism                   CAREERS & TENDERS / Visit careers.mg.co.za                   WHATSAPP? / Follow the M&G WhatsApp channel here            
Login / Register

LOGIN

  • News
    • Africa
    • Business
    • Editorial
    • Education
    • Health
    • Motoring
    • National
    • Sci-tech
    • Sport
    • World
  • Thought Leader
  • Politics
  • Green Guardian
  • Friday
  • The Diplomat
  • G20 South Africa
  • Power of Women
  • Events
    • 200 Young South Africans
    • Greening The Future
    • Critical Thinking Forum
    • Youth Summit
    • Webinars
  • More..
    • Research World
    • Partners
    • Podcasts
    • Crossword
    • Digital Editions
    • Register
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • Login
    • Lost Password

           

Illegal Miners

‘I’m fighting for my sons’ lives,’ says father of trapped illegal miners in Krugersdorp
National
/ 6 December 2024

‘I’m fighting for my sons’ lives,’ says father of trapped illegal miners in Krugersdorp

The relatives of illegal artisanal miners who are trapped underground in in a flooded mine shaft say that the authorities have failed to help them

By Sheree Bega
Illegal miners arrested this week have not been linked to M1 highway robbery, police say
National
/ 21 February 2024

Illegal miners arrested this week have not been linked to M1 highway robbery, police say

On Tuesday, motorists were robbed at gunpoint at the Crown Interchange during peak Johannesburg traffic

By Umamah Bakharia
Ramaphosa talks tough on illegal mining
Politics
/ 3 September 2023

Ramaphosa talks tough on illegal mining

The ANC President says those found to be on the wrong side of the law will be arrested

By Mandisa Nyathi
City of Johannesburg counting cost of illegal mining on its infrastructure
The Green Guardian
/ 1 September 2023

City of Johannesburg counting cost of illegal mining on its infrastructure

Road and water infrastructure, largely in the central, south and west of Johannesburg, is being damaged

By Sheree Bega
Illegal mining: Roodepoort residents are ‘prisoners’ of turf wars
National
/ 1 September 2023

Illegal mining: Roodepoort residents are ‘prisoners’ of turf wars

The displacement of illegal artisanal mining gangs by the police causes the miners to flee to other areas, resulting in violent turf wars that spill over into neighbouring areas

By Sheree Bega
Illegal mining: High risks to environment, infrastructure
National
/ 1 September 2023

Illegal mining: High risks to environment, infrastructure

The effect of illegal mining includes sabotaged pipelines that contaminate the environment, illegal water usage, sinkholes, underground fires and explosions

By Sheree Bega
Illegal mining: Jobs are scarce, says artisanal miner
The Green Guardian
/ 1 September 2023

Illegal mining: Jobs are scarce, says artisanal miner

They scour mine dumps on the West Rand for gold

By Sheree Bega
Illegal mining: ‘The gold is there, people are hungry and mines are closed’
Business
/ 1 September 2023

Illegal mining: ‘The gold is there, people are hungry and mines are closed’

The informal economy around zama zama mining has replaced that of large-scale mining companies that have abandoned or closed their mines

By Sheree Bega
Specialised task force to combat illegal mining in South Africa
National
/ 11 August 2022

Specialised task force to combat illegal mining in South Africa

Police and minerals department tell briefing a specialised team will be appointed in each province to fight illegal mining

By Eunice Masson
Zama zamas and foreigners the perfect scapegoats as East and West Rand erupt in fiery rage
Opinion
/ 5 August 2022

Zama zamas and foreigners the perfect scapegoats as East and West Rand erupt in fiery rage

Zama zamas and foreigners have been made fall guys for the ills in our societies but ultimately politicians will have to take responsibility for their failings

By Hugo ka Canham
Tembisa protests, Krugersdorp anger raise fears of new wave of violence
National
/ 2 August 2022

Tembisa protests, Krugersdorp anger raise fears of new wave of violence

The spectre of the July 2021 riots looms large over the events in Gauteng of the last few days, and, as always, xenophobia is disgruntled South Africa’s faithful companion

By Bongeka Gumede
Undocumented people arrested at abandoned Northern Cape mines to be repatriated
National
/ 11 July 2022

Undocumented people arrested at abandoned Northern Cape mines to be repatriated

The 90 detainees are among 110 people held by police at abandoned mining sites in the Namakwa district.

By Eunice Masson
Illegal Limpopo chrome mining — digging deep for empty promises
Article
/ 23 September 2016

Illegal Limpopo chrome mining — digging deep for empty promises

Informal miners were the hardest hit when dodgy ‘investors’ were finally chased out of Sekhukhune, Limpopo.

By Athandiwe Saba
Illegal miners: Poisoning is better than poverty
Africa
/ 19 March 2014

Illegal miners: Poisoning is better than poverty

Nigeria’s illegal miners have continued their quest for gold despite lead contamination affecting thousands.

By Staff Reporter
Several rescued illegal miners to appear in court
Article
/ 19 February 2014

Several rescued illegal miners to appear in court

Following the rescue of 25 illegal miners from an abandoned mine shift, 22 of them are set to appear in court, say the Hawks.

By Sapa
Two illegal miners die, one body trapped underground
Article
/ 19 February 2014

Two illegal miners die, one body trapped underground

Kilometres away from where 25 illegal miners were rescued, Ekurhuleni municipality says two illegals miners have died in a mine shaft in the area.

By Sapa
More trapped illegal miners surface
Article
/ 18 February 2014

More trapped illegal miners surface

Three more illegal miners have surfaced from an abandoned mine in Benoni, on the East Rand, says Ekurhuleni emergency services.

By Sapa
Rescued illegal miners charged
Article
/ 17 February 2014

Rescued illegal miners charged

The 11 miners who were rescued from an abandoned gold shaft over the weekend will be appearing in court on charges of illegal mining.

By Sapa
Ghana gold mine collapse leaves 17 illegal workers dead
Africa
/ 16 April 2013

Ghana gold mine collapse leaves 17 illegal workers dead

A gold mine has collapsed in central Ghana, killing 17 people who were working illegally and had been told to leave, say police and an official.

By Joel Olatunde Agoi
Illegal miners pick away at dead mines
Article
/ 11 May 2012

Illegal miners pick away at dead mines

A vast underground network on the East Rand provides riches for those prepared to take the risk, writes Lisa Steyn.

By Lisa Steyn
No image available
Article
/ 8 December 2010

Police arrest hundreds of illegal miners at Aurora

Police have confirmed they arrested 358 illegal miners at the Aurora mine on Tuesday.

By Jenny Gross
No arrests after Aurora shootings, say police
Article
/ 16 August 2010

No arrests after Aurora shootings, say police

No one has been arrested for the killing of four "illegal" miners, who were shot dead in a shaft at the Aurora Grootvlei mine, police said on Monday.

By Staff Reporter
Aurora justifies mine killings
Article
/ 13 August 2010

Aurora justifies mine killings

An Aurora director has defended the killing of alleged illegal miners at the mine’s Grootvlei operations, saying it was about protecting the company.

By Staff Reporter
Mystery of Aurora corpses
Article
/ 13 August 2010

Mystery of Aurora corpses

Uncertainty shrouds the cause of death of four men — allegedly illegal miners — whose bodies were found on Thursday in an underground in a mine.

By Ilham Rawoot and Gcina Ntsaluba
No image available
Article
/ 1 July 2010

Mine deaths: Union points finger at illegal miners

Illegal miners may have ambushed a proto team working underground at Harmony’s Phakisa mine, leading to their deaths, trade union Uasa says.

By Staff Reporter

MAIL & GUARDIAN

ABOUT

About
Contact
Advertise

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscribe
Newsletters

FOLLOW

WhatsApp Channel
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
TikTok
Threads

FLAGSHIP EVENTS

200 Young South Africans
Power Of Women
Greening The Future

LEGAL & CORRECTIONS

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Ethics & Social Media Policy

RESOURCES

Mail & Guardian Careers
Property for sale


Mail & Guardian

© 2026 The Mail & Guardian. All rights reserved.

  • Login
  • Register
Forgot Password?
Lost your password? Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
body::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 7px; } body::-webkit-scrollbar-track { border-radius: 10px; background: #f0f0f0; } body::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { border-radius: 50px; background: #dfdbdb }