NEWSFLASH: Fourteen killed, several believed trapped in illegal chrome incident near Marikana

Fourteen illegal chrome miners were killed and several more are believed to be trapped under rubble after a rock fall near the Nkaneng informal settlement in North West, South Africa. The incident occurred on Monday night at around 9 pm, according to police. Most of the illegal miners involved were from Lesotho, and eight others were hospitalized with injuries.

Confirming previous reports, the South African Police Service (SAPS) stated that an unknown number of miners could still be trapped under the ground at the active scene. Illegal chrome mining and illegal chrome washing plants are prevalent in the region near Rustenburg and Marikana, despite occasional police successes. Such operations often operate without safety standards or guidelines, posing a significant threat to both the miners and the surrounding environment.

Recent raids by the Hawks have seized chrome mining equipment, including 23 cases registered in the past two years with 63 accused charged. The police have also seized 20 trucks and 15 excavators in the same time frame. Mining security sources have noted that initiatives to combat illegal gold mining have driven some criminals into the illegal chrome sector.

The deadly accident underscores the corrosive impact of illegal chrome operations on property values, agricultural land, water supplies, and legitimate mining profits, often funding transnational organized crime. South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome, accounting for about 70% of global supplies.