By Oluwakemi Kindness
Fourteen illegal miners have been killed and eight others seriously injured after a rockfall at a disused mine near Rustenburg, South Africa.
The incident occurred at an abandoned mine about 100 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg, police said on Tuesday.
Provincial police spokeswoman, Colonel Adele Myburgh said officials were still heading to the site and that details about the victims, including their nationalities, were not yet available.
Police confirmed that 14 illegal miners died in the collapse, while eight others sustained serious injuries.
The miners, commonly known as “zama zamas”, operate in abandoned mines across South Africa, often searching for gold and other minerals.
Authorities say the unregulated mining sector is dangerous, with many miners working in poorly maintained shafts without proper infrastructure or safety measures.
Myburgh said the mine where the incident occurred was in a severely dilapidated condition.
The “zama zama” mining sector has also been linked to organised crime, extortion and other illegal activities.
The latest deaths highlight the persistent dangers faced by unregistered miners working in abandoned mine shafts across South Africa.
