South African police arrested 540 illegal miners who were forced to emerge from an abandoned mine shaft after authorities blocked their access to food and water supplies, officials announced Sunday.
The dramatic operation in the northern mining town of Orkney employed a strategy of cutting off essential supplies to the underground workers, known locally as “zama zamas” — a Zulu term meaning “those who try their luck.” Police say the tactic led to “starvation and dehydration,” compelling the miners to surface.
“We blocked communities in and around these abandoned mining shafts in Orkney from delivering food parcels, water and necessities to these illegal miners,” the police statement detailed. The exodus began Saturday with 225 miners emerging, followed by an additional 340 on Sunday, all of whom were immediately arrested.
National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Shadrack Sibiya urged security forces “not to back down” and to “ensure the rule of law is restored.” Despite the hundreds already detained, authorities believe “hundreds if not a thousand” miners may still remain underground.
The operation represents a significant escalation in South Africa’s efforts to combat illegal mining operations that have plagued the mineral-rich nation. According to Sibiya, law enforcement has arrested more than 13,690 suspects across seven provinces since December 2023.
The crackdown has yielded substantial seizures, including R5 million ($283,000) in cash and uncut diamonds valued at R32 million ($1.8 million), highlighting the lucrative nature of the illegal mining trade.
South Africa’s illegal mining industry has long been a challenge for authorities, with thousands of zama zamas operating in abandoned mines throughout the country, often in dangerous conditions and outside any regulatory oversight.
The mass arrest in Orkney marks one of the largest single enforcement actions against illegal mining operations in recent years, demonstrating a more aggressive approach by South African authorities to combat the practice.
