Rustenburg illegal miners dead in mine shaft collapse
Rustenburg illegal miners dead after a rockfall at a disused shaft near Nkaneng, with eight injured and an inquest now under way.
Latest in Illegal mining
Crime
One hundred unpolished diamonds recovered in Operation Vala Umgodi
More than 100 unpolished diamonds were seized during three separate Vala Umgodi operations in and around the areas of Kleinzee and Port Nolloth and Northern Cape leading to the arrest of 15 illegal miners
News
Roodepoort rescuers racing against time to extract illegal miners trapped in toxic shaft
Rescue teams in Roodepoort are racing to save two illegal miners trapped in a collapsed shaft.
Crime
James ‘Tiger’ Tshoaeli: Manhunt launched for alleged zama zama kingpin
Despite being apprehended, police allege that community members and possibly law enforcement officials facilitated his escape before he could be processed.
News
EFF to report Kenny Kunene to SAHRC over ‘skinning’ illegal miners
The EFF, in a statement, characterised his comments as “sadistic and dehumanising,” and accused him of using xenophobic rhetoric to gain electoral support.
News
Stilfontein operation: Rescuers stumble on horror site underground
The Stilfontein rescue operation on Day Three ended with no survivors found underground, only unidentified remains. Here’s what happened during the mission.
News
Latest Stilfontein letter claims miners are eating human flesh to survive
Released on Christmas Day, the letter paints a grim picture of life in the abandoned Stilfontein shafts.
News
Zama Zama threats delay power restoration in Carletonville
Eskom’s technicians have been working around the clock to expedite repairs, but threats from illegal mining activities in the area have hindered progress.
Crime
Sabie rescue operations resume as over 100 illegal miners remain trapped underground
Authorities estimate that more than 100 miners remain trapped in the abandoned mine shaft.
Crime
The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas
South Africa’s illicit gold trade is lucrative and controlled by gangs.
Crime
Six more illegal miners surface from Stilfontein shaft
Six men were captured as they emerged from one of the abandoned, taking the total of illegal miners arrested in the past 24 hours to 26.
Crime
Stilfontein mine latest news: 17 more ‘zama mamas’ surface from shafts [video]
In a statement, North West police confirmed that "of the 17 illegal miners, 14 resurfaced from Margaret Shaft and three at Shaft No. 10."
Crime
Gauteng Hawks arrest two suspects in R15 million gold bar sting operation
The state of the gold bars, irregular in shape, not neatly moulded or standardised like investment-grade gold bullion, suggests they were potentially smuggled from a refinery, or worse, produced by zama zamas (illegal miners).
News
Stilfontein latest news: Court throws out humanitarian relief case
The court accepted the State's argument, stating that the responsibility for safety measures lies primarily with Buffelsfontein Gold Mines, the mine owner.
Crime
SAPS shoots down ‘humanitarian crisis’ claims after 14 Stilfontein miners resurface
When interviewed, the captured miners painted a different picture of what was allegedly unfolding in the gold mine.
News
Stilfontein mine latest news: North West police investigating claims of extortion
According to reports, a suspect reportedly demanded a 30% cut from the rescue team, tasked with aiding illegal miners believed to be stuck underground.
News
Stilfontein’s dangerous and desperate illegal mining industry
Zama zamas search for gold in a vast and unmapped underground network of tunnels.
News
‘antiretrovirals are not Panado’ – Motsoaledi on Stilfontein illegal miners receiving ARVs
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi rejects calls to distribute ARVs to Stilfontein illegal miners without prescriptions.
News
Illegal miners trapped in Stilfontein mine plead for ARVs
A handwritten note, believed to be from the miners, surfaced, detailing their urgent need for ARVs and raising concerns about their health.
News
Stilfontein rescue efforts escalate after urgent court order
The ruling requires authorities to reopen access routes at the disused mine to allow emergency services to assist hundreds of illegal miners trapped underground.
Crime
Limpopo police crackdown on zama-zama gold refinery
The arrest, made during a targeted operation on Thursday, resulted in the seizure of mining equipment valued at R3 million.
Crime
Stilfontein mine latest news: One dead body retrieved from abandoned shaft
One body has been recovered from the Stilfontein mine, where over 4,000 illegal miners remain trapped as government officials stand firm on a non-intervention policy.
News
Over 4,500 illegal miners trapped in Stilfontein mine shaft
According to SAPS and SANDF officials, the trapped miners are now pleading for essential supplies like water and food as their situation becomes dire.
News
Illegal miners captured from Stilfontein shaft rises to 1,004: Here’s the latest
Over 1,000 illegal miners have surfaced from the Stilfontein shaft since SAPS launched its extraction tactic in October.
Crime
M1 highway robbery suspects arrested after dramatic shootout [photo]
Eight robberysuspects linked to the notorious 'zama mamas' were arrested after a shootout with JMPD officers on the M1 highway.
![M1 highway robbery suspects arrested after dramatic shootout [photo]](https://www.swisherpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/swisherpost-m1-highway-robbery-768x512.jpg)
Crime
Ninety suspected illegal miners arrested this week
'The law enforcement agencies will continue with these operations in the province,' said the police in a statement.
News
Here’s how much taxpayers will reportedly fork out to deploy SANDF to combat illegal mining
The SANDF has been deployed alongside SAPS in a major crackdown on illegal mining across South Africa.
Crime
Riverlea illegal mining still rampant despite high-level police intervention
Illegal mining in Riverlea continues unabated, despite the intervention of high-level police units aiming to curb the dangerous operations.