miners

In a dramatic turn of events, rescuers have successfully brought to light over 100 illegal miners who have been ensnared underground for several months at the Stilfontein mine, just outside Johannesburg. The operation, however, was not without its somber moments; it also resulted in the recovery of numerous bodies, a grim reminder of the perilous life many lead in search of precious metals. These miners, colloquially referred to as "zama zamas," embody a harrowing reality for countless individuals in South Africa. They have…

In a somber scene underscored by the chill of reality gripping Stilfontein, South Africa, rescuers and officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS) gingerly transported blue body bags. Each one solemnly bore witness to the lives lost in a tragic turn of events deep within the bowels of an abandoned gold mine. It’s chilling to grasp the enormity of the tragedy — at least a hundred souls, entangled in an illegal mining operation gone disastrously wrong, have perished, according to a group advocating for their rights.…

The task force known as Operation Vala Umgodi, part of the South African Police Service operating in the North West province, has reiterated its plea for illegal miners who remain underground to resurface. Currently, law enforcement is engaged in a tense standoff with a significant number of illegal miners who find themselves stuck in an abandoned mining shaft. In response to the situation, police have effectively sealed off the entry points that these miners use to bring in supplies. As a result, these individuals are now…

Accidents have been linked in recent weeks in several gold mines in Guinea. On March 1, more than a dozen people died in the collapse of a gallery in the Kounsitel area, in the north of the country. RFI was able to visit a handicraft gold-plating place near…

Three years ago, the central government made these craft areas available to them. According to the Provincial Ministry of Mines, it is necessary before any exploitation to transform these sites into surface mines and proceed with the opening of roads to ensure the best working conditions for craft mines. Meanwhile, some impatient miners are engaged in anarchic exploitation of cobalt.…

Aid operations continue in Zimbabwe after a gold mine collapsed on Wednesday night in Bindura. At least 40 illegal miners have been caught and the chances of finding them alive are declining. A crane truck and a local rescue team continue to work on the site of the Ran gold mine in Bindura, northeast of Zimbabwe, under the…