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Mail & Guardian
zama zamalatest news & developments
Artist Kim Berman stands in front of her image entitled “Atonement”.

Kim Berman’s fire sermon

The artist’s latest exhibition, spanning 40 years, celebrates ‘the victory of memory over forgetting’

The tragedy of miners trapped underground and the police’s Operation Vala Umgodi is an all-time low for human rights – the government of national unity must act now

Stilfontein miners: ‘It was not an illness that killed them. It was starvation’

The tragedy of miners trapped underground and the police’s Operation Vala Umgodi is an all-time low for human rights – the government of national unity must act now

Digging deep: Residents of the township of Khuma, near the Buffelsfontein mine in Stilfontein, North West, where zama zamas are trapped underground, say they are suffering economically after a police operation shut down illegal mining activity. Photo: Lunga Mzangwe

Stilfontein: Zama zamas are humans entitled to the right to life

The single narrative of these miners as criminals in mainstream and social media ‘makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult’

Digging deep: Residents of the township of Khuma, near the Buffelsfontein mine in Stilfontein, North West, where zama zamas are trapped underground, say they are suffering economically after a police operation shut down illegal mining activity. Photos: Lunga Mzangwe

Local economy reels from police blockade of Stilfontein mine

Illegal miners want the state to legalise their operations as it is the only way for them to earn a living

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Washington DC this week on a mission few would envy: to rescue a bilateral relationship that has descended into open hostility.
 Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Ramaphosa talks tough on illegal mining

The ANC President says those found to be on the wrong side of the law will be arrested

Forensic pathology vehicles at Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg removing bodies of people who died after inhaling poisonous gas. Picture: City of Ekurhuleni

Illegal mining possible cause of Boksburg gas leak

Nitrate oxide from gas cylinders is believed to be the cause of the explosion

The department of mineral resources and energy has hit back at critics who have spoken against its latest draft report on South Africa Renewable Energy Master Plan released in July. (Dean Hutton/Getty Images & Luca Sola/Getty Images)

Electricity costs add to miners’ woes

Companies are also grappling with a decline in commodity prices and weaker global demand

Hunting: Residents on a mine dump search for artisanal miners they accuse of rape and rising crime levels in Kagiso. Photo: Guillem Artorio/AFP

Police ‘ignorance’ of law stalls rape investigations

Limpopo police are apparently unaware they can use the home affairs department’s database to track suspected criminals

Zama zamas and foreigners have been made fall guys for the ills in our societies but ultimately politicians will have to take responsibility for their failings

Zama zamas and foreigners the perfect scapegoats as East and West Rand erupt in fiery rage

Zama zamas and foreigners have been made fall guys for the ills in our societies but ultimately politicians will have to take responsibility for their failings

Kagiso residents have turned violent against illegal miners.

Kagiso residents turn violent, assault people accused of illegal mining, crime

One person was killed, while others were stripped naked and beaten by groups, who also barricaded roads and searched abandoned mines

(Lucas Ledwaba/Mukurukuru Media)

The case for giving zama-zamas mining rights

It’s dangerous work done by people who live on the poverty line, and are desperate to provide for their families.

“We are just trying to feed our children. We are not stealing from anyone.”

Zama-zamas take their chances rather than starve

They work long and hard deep in the earth. It is a life on the edge. But there are plans to make things easier, writes Lucas Ledwaba

An illegal miner sits at the entrance of a mine in Langlaagta. (File photo/MG)

Zama Zamas retrieve last two bodies from Langlaagte mine

Volunteer rescuers had to endure a long night as they miraculously retrieved the bodies of the last two miners that were still trapped underground.

The victims of the Aurora mine debacle continue to do what they know best – mining

The finalisation of liquidation proceedings should at least give them some temporary relief.

why-it-doesnt-make-sense-that-all-informal-mining-is-deemed-illegal. Image: Supplied

Violent threat, real opportunity in zama zama gold rush

With a dire socioeconomic situation and a history of xenophobia, turf wars between local and foreign zama zamas may lead to more violence.