The invasion of illegal mining has left the community of Nyakallong frightened

Tshepo Tsie

Illegal mining is a major issue not only in Nyakallong but in South Africa as a whole. Residents and people from neighboring countries are the ones who engage in illegal mining, often referred to as zama zama.

Illegal mining is driven by various factors such as poverty, lack of employment opportunities, weak governance, corruption, inadequate enforcement of mining regulations, and high demand for valuable minerals and environmental products. In 2019, 50 illegal miners were caught trying to evade arrest by going to the side slime dam.

In Nyakallong and Allenridge, illegal mining occurs in Harmony Shafts One And Two. The zama zama are endangering their lives by mining there because they have nothing to defend themselves with and no access to medical care if something goes wrong. It will make them easily infected if they are trapped inside and they do not have enough equipment to work with.

The community does not feel safe because some of Zama Zama have illegal guns and they bring violence to their communities they also terrorize the community, commit several crimes and sometimes they end up getting away with it because they do not have legal documentation.

According to an unnamed Zama Zama source, he is simply supporting or providing for his family because there are no work opportunities. He further said that ” illegal mining would have long since ceased if there had been employment prospects.”

Another anonymous source said that “these people are bringing violence to their communities and they also shoot each other and their fellow citizens and they are also using their sisters for money.” 

Illegal mining has several negative impacts on the economy first it undermines the formal mining sector by avoiding taxes, royalties, and other regulatory fees, leading to loss of government revenue. Secondly, it poses safety risks to miners and nearby communities resulting in potential loss of life and increased health care costs. Illegal mining contributes to environmental degradation, affecting agriculture, water sources, and biodiversity which can further strain the economy for legal mining operations, hindering their growth and investment potential.

Overall illegal mining exacerbates economic challenges and hampers sustainable development. The government and Harmony Mine should create more job opportunities for people who are qualified to work and not hire people from outside Nyakallong and Allenridge. They also have to work with the community to arrest these people because they are dangerous to their communities