South African Police Remove and Arrest 540 Unauthorized Miners from Disused Shaft

Law enforcement in South Africa has compelled 540 unauthorized miners to exit an disused mine shaft and subsequently taken them into custody. Earlier in the week, security personnel prevented the provision of food and water to the miners, aiming to compel their departure from the mine. According to police, the miners endured “starvation and dehydration,” which necessitated their emergence from underground. Individuals have been exiting the mine, situated in the northern town of Orkney, since Saturday, although it is thought that hundreds still occupy the shaft. A statement from the force indicates that on Sunday, the head of the national police urged security personnel present “not to back down” and to “ensure the rule of law is restored.” The same statement details that earlier this week, security forces “blocked communities in and around these abandoned mining shifts in Orkney from delivering food parcels, water and necessities to these illegal miners.” On Saturday, law enforcement officials reported that 225 miners had come to the surface, but an estimated “hundreds if not a thousand” were still believed to be below ground. An update provided on Sunday by the national force indicated that an additional 340 individuals had exited the mine and were subsequently apprehended. In this mineral-rich nation, thousands of unauthorized miners, referred to as “zama zamas” (meaning “those who try their luck” in Zulu), conduct operations. Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, the National Police Commissioner, stated that over 13,690 suspects have been arrested across seven provinces since December 2023. He added, “We have seized R5 million ($283,000; $220,000) in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million ($1.8m; £1.4m).”