A closer look at “Sinkholes, Scarred Land and Scapegoats: Illegal Gold Mining Crisis Grips Johannesburg”, exactly as the source publishes it. In Johannesburg’s western townships, illegal gold miners known as zama zamas are digging ever deeper into abandoned mine shafts, leaving behind sinkholes, scarred land and a community on edge. Cora Bailey, founder of Community Led Animal Welfare (Claw) in Roodepoort, has witnessed the surge firsthan Cora Bailey, founder of Community Led Animal Welfare (Claw) in Roodepoort, has witnessed the surge firsthand since 1991, but the recent spike in gold prices has drawn dozens of miners to the area, often within sight of her charity.
The term zama zama, from Zulu for “to take a chance,” reflects the desperate gamble these miners take daily. Despite police operations, the drivers of illegal mining remain unresolved, and enforcement appears largely ineffective. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.