Zama Zamas: Desperation in South African Mines
Johannesburg, South Africa - In Zulu, zama zamas means “ones who keep trying and trying” (Marley). This name aptly refers to thousands of migrants who pour into Johannesburg looking for economic opportunities. Instead, they discover themselves braving unimaginable risks to descend into terrifying darkness of abandoned mines to extract meager remnants of gold.
What makes these zama zamas so desperate? Poor economic conditions and lack of skills drive thousands of jobless miners to try their luck illegally in perilous gold shafts. It is estimated that from 2012 to 2015, at least 312 illegal miners died from working in abandoned mines (Johnson). In addition to endangering themselves, these zama zamas cause the government and the mining industry to lose more than 1.5 billion yearly in lost taxes and gold production (Reuters). At this high cost of lives and money, it is not surprising that illegal mining tops the list of critical issues facing South Africa.
The rise of illegal mining began when tough economic conditions led people from neighboring countries to seek better opportunities in South Africa, which already has a 30% unemployment rate. In fact, the Chamber of Mines estimated that nearly 70% of illegal miners were undocumented migrants in 2012 (Johnson). In addition, falling gold prices since 2013 have lowered profitability in the mining industry, leading to massive layoffs and increased abandoned mines. The jobless zama zamas, who have no skills except mining, were forced to work in disused mines.
Unfortunately, the unregulated and illicit nature of working in the newly abandoned mines leads to hazardous working conditions. According to CNN, illegal mining is the “worst job in the world” because miners confront dangers such as mine collapses, rock falls, or carbon-monoxide poisoning. Moreover, zama zamas utilize poor mining equipment that leads to fatal accidents. Moyo, a zama zama, admits, “[O]f course I don't like this job and I am scared all the time" (CNN).
In addition to poor working conditions, zama zamas face threats from gang wars. Within just three weeks in 2015, 53 miners died in various gunfights or mine sabotages (Johnson). Furthermore, according to the BBC, individual groups of miners are sometimes captured and forced into slavery by local gangs (Maseko).
As a result of hazardous working conditions and gang crimes, government officials are often called to assist in illegal mining accidents and gang shootouts. It is estimated that between 2011 and 2014, the South African police received 2200 calls related to illegal mining (Olalde). Aside from cost resulting from crimes, illegal mining puts financial burdens on the mining industry. The stolen gold costs the industry approximately 500 million dollars per year (Johnson). More importantly, illegal mining causes irreparable damages (up to 50 times more than the money lost in taxes) to the infrastructure of the mines (Johnson).
Since illegal mining is so costly, Sibanye, the largest individual gold producer in South Africa, hopes to end it by allocating 20% of their operating cost to upgrading the security systems in the mines (Stoddard). Instead of allowing the zama zamas to piggyback off employees into the mines, more technologically advanced checkpoints were installed to prevent illegal access.
Although Sibanye’s solution has decreased the zama-zama number significantly, it is a short-term patch because zama zamas can always find more dangerous ways like digging tunnels to access the mines. Until a better solution that includes providing alternatives such as education and job opportunities, thousands of zama zamas will, as their name implies, continue to “keep trying” by circumventing even the most secured mines - not because they want to, but because they have no choice.
Works Cited: Zama Zamas: Desperation in South African Mines
Center, Pulitzer. “South Africa: A Minefield of Hope....and Violence.” Pulitzer Center, Pulitzer
Center, 26 June 2017, pulitzercenter.org/reporting/south-africa-minefield-hopeand-violence. Accessed
2018.
Cnn. “South Africa's Zama Zamas: The World's Worst Job? - CNN.” CNN, CNN, 10 Aug. 2015,
www.cnn.com/2015/08/10/africa/south-africa-illegal-mining/index.html. Accessed July 2018.
Editorial, Reuters. “South Africa's Sibanye Declares War on Illegal Gold Miners.” Reuters, Reuters,
21 Apr. 2017, www.reuters.com/article/safrica-mining-illegal/south-africas-sibanye-declares-war-on-
illegal-gold-miners-idUSL8N1HS1E9. Accessed July 2018.
Foreign Relations, Council On. “Illegal Mining and the Role of ‘Zama Zamas’ in South Africa.”
Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 16 Aug. 2016, www.cfr.org/blog/illegal-
mining-and-role-zama-zamas-south-africa. Accessed Oct. 2018.
Johnson, Cecilia. “Lethal Toll of Informal Gold Mining.” Groundup.org.za, Groundup.org.za, 17
Aug. 2016, www.groundup.org.za/article/lethal-toll-informal-gold-mining/. Accessed Oct. 2018.
Marley. “Desperation and Death - The Zama Zamas.” Mining Africa, Mining Africa, 2 Oct. 2017,
www.miningafrica.net/mining-news/egolis-latest-gold-rush/. Accessed Sept. 2018.
News, Bbc. “Illegal Miners' Bodies Found in SA.” BBC News, BBC News, 18 Feb. 2014,
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26242636. Accessed July 2018.
1) My favorite aspect of the piece was how informative it was and it was definitely deeply researched
ReplyDelete2) The main takeaway was that illegal miners harm themselves along with the economy when they mine
3) Are there any current ongoing efforts by the government (more laws or increased enforcement) to address this problem? (other than the corporate solution by Sibanye)
I really liked the detail that you included in your article and I found it really interesting to learn about the continuation of mining issues there is we were first introduced to them in Cry, the Beloved Country. I was surprised the lengths that these miners go to in order to find work and the danger that follows them. Are these illegal miners making a significant profit off of mining?
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