The number of illegal miners, sometimes referred to as Zama Zamas, has increased in mining communities, making it practically hard for mining houses to continue mining.

The first-of-its-kind sentence was handed down to a mine worker who was working with illegal miners in the Kopanang Mine at Vierfontein in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality.

Domingos Macucule was found guilty and sentenced on Friday (31/5) to a fine of R10 000 or six months imprisonment for contravening sections 22, 91, and 92 of the Mine Health Safety Act (29 of 1996).

Macucule contravened Sections 22, 91, and 92 of the Mine Health Safety Act 29 of 1996. Picture: safetysignonline.co.za

“Due to the complexities arising from cases of illegal mining, it was difficult to charge the accused with other possible counts that were intended to curb this scourge of illegal mining,” said NPA spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane.

“The prosecutor undertook some research on the Mine Health Safety Act to see if there were no other charges that could not be formulated from the said Act and then drew and drafted the charges as proffered against the accused in this matter.

“Domingos Macucule was employed as a rock drill operator at Kopanang VMR mine and was arrested in August 2022 after he was found by the mine securities in possession of contraband, which he was taking underground for the illegal miners,” said Senokoatsane.

“These contrabands included twelve AAA batteries, packets of tartaric acid, and packets of cigarettes concealed in bread and fruits,” he said.

Illegal miners are seen with members of the SAPS. Picture: News24/City Press

As part of their illegal activities, the Zama Zamas have taken to using abandoned mine shafts as bases. In the Vierfontein area, they have been paying mine employees to act as mules, carrying out the extracted minerals that they would otherwise have to sell to surface customers.

Illegal mining is often organised and carried out by organised crime syndicates. While individual illegal miners may act out of economic desperation, there is no doubt that illegal mining activities are directly linked to the lucrative illicit trade in precious metals and diamonds, according to the Chamber of Mines of South Africa.

“Illegal mining activities on operating mines conservatively cost the economy more than R7 billion annually, including the non-payment of taxes and royalties,” said the Chamber of Mines of South Africa’s Senior Executive, Elize Strydom.

‘Mining communities suffer as they become riddled with child labour’

“But, this is likely to be an underestimate as illegitimate activities cannot be accurately quantified. Where illegal miners trespass on operating mines to do their work, they cause significant damage and losses which harm the viability of these operations.”

“Mining communities suffer as they become riddled with a related crime such as bribery, violence against workers and management, and child labour,” said Strydom.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg/mvh