In the shadow of tragedy and economic despair, former Lily Mine workers at Barberton, Mpumalanga, have turned to illegal mining.
The mine’s closure, precipitated by the catastrophic sink-hole on February 5, 2016, that claimed the lives of Solomon Nyerende, Yvonne Mnisi, and Pretty Nkambule, left a void not only in people’s hearts but also in the community’s livelihood.
The three workers perished when their lamp room was trapped 80m below the surface, amid the chaos that saw 87 of their colleagues rescued.
The incident, which transitioned from a rescue operation to a retrieval mission, cast a long shadow over the lives of the surviving miners, who were thrust into unemployment and poverty.
One miner, who requested anonymity for safety, voiced the community’s frustration and resentment towards the foreign companies that once operated the mine. “To us, their licences are mere permits to rob the rightful owners of this land of their wealth. We could not stand idly by as they left us to starve,” said the man.
With desperation as their motivator, these men have turned to illegal mining, despite the inherent dangers. “We were trained and provided our labour honestly. But after the 2016 incident and the mine’s closure, we were left destitute. It’s excruciating to transform from a breadwinner to a beggar overnight.”
His companion, equally entrenched in the dangerous trade, detailed the hazardous conditions they endure.
Their operation is as gruelling as it is dangerous. It takes an entire day to reach the mine’s depths, where they remain for days on end to extract gold.
“We bring all our supplies, including maize meal and tinned food, as we often stay underground for extended periods. When supplies run out, some of us go to the surface to ask our clients to provide more food,” one miner explained.
The risks are not just physical. Internal conflicts often turn deadly. “Down there, we are not friends; we are soldiers fighting a common enemy: hunger. This sometimes leads to gunpointing and fatal disputes,” one miner recounted.
The miners disclosed that they sell their finds to Zimbabweans with connections to gold traders shielded by people with political and business interests.
The miners also face constant threats from security guards and police, who frequently arrest illegal miners.
In other parts of Mpumalanga, zama zamas scour the Barberton Greenstone Belt and old mining towns such as Pilgrim’s Rest, Deinjie and Sabie for leftover gold.
Last week, residents of Pilgrim’s Rest took to the streets to protest against the heavily armed zama zamas. “We don’t have a problem with people looking for gold. Our concern is that we have been making a living through tourism. How can tourists continue to visit when they encounter armed zama zamas who often commit robberies?”
“This situation impacts our small businesses because fewer people are coming to this town. Yes, the government conducted operations to chase the zama zamas away, but it didn’t last long.”
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency chairperson Victor Mashego said when zama zamas infiltrate protected areas, they taint the province’s image.
Provincial police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said there have been successes in curbing illegal mining through actions such as Operation Vala Umgodi.
Hundreds of suspects have been arrested and equipment confiscated as part of Operation Prosper, and other stakeholders have been deployed to patrol and secure unsafe mining sites.
Despite this, illegal mining remains a persistent problem.
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