At Least 14 artisanal miners killed, 8 injured in collapse at illicit mine in South Africa

In South Africa, a collapse at an illicit mine resulted in at least 14 artisanal miners losing their lives and eight others suffering injuries, according to police reports on Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Arthur Adams, the North West provincial police commissioner, stated that a search is currently underway, and it remains uncertain whether additional victims may have been trapped. To locate any survivors, sniffer dogs and specialized equipment have been utilized.

This incident occurred near Rustenburg, a city renowned for its platinum mining activity, situated approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of Johannesburg. Artisanal miners, numbering in the tens of thousands, engage in illegal mining operations within abandoned or newly dug mines. They frequently lack essential safety gear and may remain underground for extended periods.

South Africa houses the world's largest platinum reserves. Among the eight injured miners, three have been released from a hospital but were subsequently arrested on suspicion of illegal mining. The remaining five injured individuals are still hospitalized under police supervision. According to Adams, illegal mining is deeply entrenched in South Africa and is often associated with criminal organizations.

These informal miners, colloquially referred to as "zama zamas," operate in gangs that engage in violent confrontations with rival groups and have a history of terrorizing local communities.

South Africa recently experienced a major disaster related to illegal mining in late 2024. During this event, hundreds of miners became trapped underground at a gold mine that had been surrounded by police. The situation lasted for months, resulting in more than 80 fatalities, as per official accounts. President Cyril Ramaphosa took a decisive measure earlier this year by deploying soldiers across South Africa to combat organized crime, with a specific focus on illegal mining.