South Africa accused of 'horrific' crackdown as 78 bodies pulled from mine

An aerial view of a mine shaft where an estimated 4,000 unauthorised miners are trapped in a disused mine in Stilfontein, South Africa [File: AP Photo] Published On 15 Jan 2025 15 Jan 2025.

Amplats halts operations at South African mine after heavy rains

A pit head is seen at the Tumela platinum mine, an Anglo-American open pit mine located in Thabazimbi, Limpopo Province, South Africa June 9, 2016.

List of the 20 biggest mining companies in South Africa in 2024

1. Founded: 1917
2. Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
3. SA offices: Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa

Operating Mines

This directory is an update of previous editions, and lists operating mines and quarries, agents and mineral processing plants in the Republic of South Africa. The mines are grouped …

Rescuers recover 36 bodies and 82 survivors from South African gold mine

South African rescuers have pulled 36 bodies and 82 survivors from a gold mine in two days of operations, police say, adding that the survivors would face illegal mining and immigration charges.

South African Mining 2024 Outlook: Navigating …

As South African mining grapples with numerous challenges and opportunities, stakeholders in the industry must navigate the complex landscape by fostering collaboration, embracing technological advancements, and …

The rescue of hundreds of miners in a deep South African gold mine

The deceased miners were suspected to have died of starvation and dehydration, although no causes of death have been released.South African authorities have been fiercely criticized for cutting off the miners. That tactic to "smoke them out," as described by a prominent Cabinet minister, was condemned by one of South Africa's biggest trade unions.

South Africa declines aid for thousands of illegal Miners in closed mine

South Africa's government says it will not help an estimated 4,000 illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country's North West province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of ...

Why did 87 miners die trapped underground in South Africa as …

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa's president is facing calls to order an inquiry into a police operation that was meant to combat illegal mining but ended up leaving …

Mining in SA

Economic activity in modern-day South Africa has been centred on mining activities, their ancillary services and supplies. The country's stock exchange in Johannesburg was established in 1887, a decade after the first diamonds were discovered on the banks of the Orange River, and almost simultaneously with the gold rush on the world-famous Witwatersrand.

Miners trapped underground in South Africa: What's the latest?

Illegal gold mining is widespread in South Africa, a one-time mining giant. Thousands routinely search for gold deposits in abandoned mines that are no longer deemed viable or safe. More than $1bn ...

Top 10 Gold Mines in South Africa

02: South Deep Gold Mine – 32.8MnOz. Located in the Witwatersrand Basin in the Gauteng province, the South Deep gold mine has estimated reserves of 32.8MnOz. With a depth of 2,995m below the surface, …

Relatives wait for news as body bags hauled from South African mine …

Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines Zinzi Tom explained that her 29-year-old brother, Ayanda, went down the mine in June because he was unemployed and wanted to make a living.

A history of mining in South Africa

By the end of 2011, South Africa's mining industry was the largest contributor to economic transformation, with broad-based black economic empowerment deals worth R150-billion completed. A A bout the author. Shamin Chibba has 13 years of writing experience, including three years as an editor.

Fact Check: Did Elon Musk Inherit Apartheid Money …

South Africans queue in the early morning sun to cast their votes in the mining settlement of Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, May 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, grew up in …

The perils of South Africa's illegal mining sector

Mining accounted for 21 percent of South Africa's GDP in 1980, according to the national statistics department. By 2023, that had dropped to just 6.2 percent. Months underground

Mines in South Africa | Africa Mining IQ

As of January 2025, there are 561 mines in South Africa, all of them listed on Africa Mining IQ. South Africa is a mineral-rich country and listed as the largest producers of platinum (1st), coal (3rd), gold (6th) and diamonds (7th).

Department of Mineral Resources & Energy

AFRICAN MINING INDABA . The 2025 edition of the African Mining Indaba, themed "Future-Proofing African Mining, Today!" aims to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector. ... WOMEN IN MINING …

Hundreds of illegal miners holed up in disused shaft in South …

Several hundred people are believed to remain in an illegal mine in South Africa after the government cut off vital supplies and refused to help them, in a dramatic bid to crack …

South African miner describes horrors of months underground

According to South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, authorities are investigating the entire value chain of illegal mining, including who the main beneficiaries are. "Where these products go is a subject of our investigation," said Mchunu, adding illegal mining is "robbing South Africa of a lot of money."

Mponeng Gold Mine, South Africa

The Mponeng gold mine located in the Gauteng province of South Africa, is the deepest operating mine in the world. It was the last underground operation by AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa. Harmony Gold, South Africa's biggest gold producer, became the owner and operator of the Mponeng underground mine by acquiring AngloGold Ashanti's ...

Court orders South Africa police to end mine stand-off | CNN

A South African court ordered police to end a standoff with illegal miners to allow emergency workers to gain access to a mine shaft where several hundred are believed to remain after the ...

South Africa: Ramaphosa urges safe resolution in Stilfontein Mining

South African police investigate at the scene where more than 20 bodies, suspected of being illegal miners, were found near an active mine in Krugersdorp, South Africa, Thursd

South Africa criticized for 'horrific' mining crackdown after

South Africa's government is facing criticism for its clampdown on illegal mining that cut off food and water to hundreds of miners underground, after at least 78 bodies were …

Dozens of Bodies Recovered From Illegal Mine in South Africa

The blockade of the mine, near Stilfontein, a town about two hours south of Johannesburg, was part of a national campaign to root out illegal miners, who are known locally as Zama Zamas.. In an ...

The five largest gold mines in South Africa

There are more than 1352 gold mines in operation globally, of which 70 are in South Africa, according to GlobalData's mines and projects database. The following are the five largest gold mines by production in South Africa in 2023, according to GlobalData's mining database, which tracks more than 33,000 mines and projects from early ...

South Africa accused of 'horrific' crackdown as 78 corpses pulled …

STILFONTEIN, South Africa, Jan 15 (Reuters) - At least 78 dead bodies have been pulled from an illegal gold mine in South Africa where police cut off food and water supplies for months, in what ...

4,000 miners cut off from supplies in underground standoff

Johannesburg — More than 4,000 miners locked in a standoff with South African authorities over illegal mining were believed to be sick and increasingly weak inside an …

Mining industry in South Africa

South Africa is incredibly rich in natural resources, with large reserves of some of the most valuable minerals on the planet found below its surface. Industrial scale mining in …

Rustenburg Mine | South Africa

Rustenburg is a shallow to intermediate level PGM operation, with surface sources and concentrators located on the Western Limb of the Bushveld Complex, northeast of the town of Rustenburg in the North West Province of …