Survival miners, often called ‘Illegal’ miners, or Zama Zamas, dominated the headlines in South Africa recently
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Show Notes
GUEST: David Van Wyk - Independent Research Professional. Bench Marks Foundation
The recent attention on survival miners, known as 'Illegal' miners or Zama Zamas, in South Africa has been marked by tragic events such as a gas explosion in an abandoned Harmony mine shaft in Virginia, deployment of 6,000 SANDF soldiers in November, and gun battles between syndicates around Riverlea. Politicians are scapegoating these miners ahead of the 2024 elections, but the Bench Marks Foundation is delving deeper into the issue.
The Foundation's report explores the roots of survival mining, tracing it back to the old migrant labor system and the decline in demand for labor in the mining sector. Many survival miners come from underdeveloped labor-sending areas, where the social fabric has been impacted. The South African government's failure to hold mining companies accountable and provide licensing for survival miners exacerbates the problem.