Zimbos among 8 miners trapped in SA disused shaft

How illegal mining is driving local conflicts in Nigeria - ISS Africa

Zim Now Writer

Four Zimbabwean nationals are among eight illegal miners, also comprising three Mozambicans and a South African, who died following the collapse at an illegal chrome mine due to heavy rains at Driekop near Burgersfort in Limpopo.

South Africa Police Service spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the incident and said the bodies were retrieved on Saturday, January 7. They had been trapped at Ga-Maroga village.

SA police believe the illegal miners, known as “zama-zamas” in SA and “makorokoza” in Zimbabwe, got trapped after soil and water flowed into the entrance and exit points.

Investigations are continuing, he said.

In November 2022, more than 20 bodies of suspected illegal miners were found outside an active mine in the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. The nearby mine shaft had been flooded by recent rains.

There are more than 6 000 derelict mines in the country, some of which have been abandoned for decades. Police officials and experts say the mining industry needs to take more responsibility for properly closing old sites.