DMPR confirms illegal miners’ deaths in Rustenburg occurred at licensed site

The Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum (DMPR) has confirmed that illegal miners' deaths that occurred at an abandoned mine in Rustenburg, North West province, happened within a zone with a valid mining permit. At least 14 suspected illegal miners lost their lives in an abandoned mine shaft in Nkaneng, with several others reported injured on Tuesday, 10 August 2026.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing to locate the remaining trapped miners, known as zama zamas. The collapse took place while the miners were mining for platinum group metals at an old dump on a private company's premises. Lerato Ntsoko, a spokesperson for the DMPR, expressed regret over the loss of life, acknowledging the significant impact such incidents have on affected communities.

The DMPR clarified that the site in question is a surface opencast mining operation, and the incident did not involve an underground mine shaft. They are currently reviewing all pertinent information related to the incident and will provide more details at a later time, including matters concerning compliance with laws governing licenses and permits.

The DMPR is also working with law enforcement agencies, mining rights holders, and affected communities to enhance prevention and enforcement measures against illegal mining. In a related incident from January 2025, South Africa experienced one of its deadliest illegal mining disasters when 78 bodies were recovered from a disused shaft in Stilfontein, located southwest of Johannesburg.

These victims were trapped underground after a nationwide police operation targeting shuttered sites, exposing the dangerous side of an industry once considered vital to the economy.