At least 14 artisanal miners killed in collapse at an illicit mine in South Africa
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least 14 artisanal miners died and eight were injured when the walls of a mine in South Africa caved in on them, police said Tuesday.
North West provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen. Arthur Adams said a search was ongoing and it was not yet clear if there were more victims. Sniffer dogs and specialized equipment were deployed to search for any others trapped underground.
The cave-in happened while the miners were operating illicitly near the city of Rustenburg, a hub for platinum mining in South Africa about 130 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.
Tens of thousands of artisanal miners work illegally in South African gold and platinum mines that are no longer used by mining companies or dig their own mines to search for deposits. They often operate without proper safety equipment and sometimes stay underground for weeks.
South Africa has the largest platinum reserves in the world.
Three of the miners injured in the collapse were released from a hospital and placed under arrest on suspicion of illegal mining. The five others who were hurt remained in the hospital under police guard, Adams said.
Illegal mining is a deep problem in South Africa and is connected to criminal syndicates, according to authorities. The informal miners are renowned and known as zama zamas, which translates loosely as “chance takers.”
They often operate in gangs that fight violent battles with rivals and are accused of terrorizing local communities.
South Africa’s most recent major disaster involving illegal mining was in late 2024, when hundreds of miners became trapped underground at a gold mine that had been surrounded by police.
The standoff lasted months and more than 80 miners died underground, according to authorities.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took the unusual step earlier this year to deploy soldiers on the streets in a yearlong operation to combat organized crime, with illegal mining one of the focuses of the operation.
___
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa