In 2017, it was estimated that South Africa’s illegal mining trade was worth R7 billion a year, and in 2015 the SA Human Rights Commission estimated that there were an active 30 000 illegal miners, or zama-zamas. According to news reports, mining towns across South Africa are under siege by illegal mining syndicates, with zama-zamas trespassing at both abandoned and functional mines. By Laurence Smith, executive at Graphic Image Technologies Not only does illegal mining lead to lost revenue and tax, but also lost employment opportunities, capital expenditure, exports and foreign exchange earnings. This article first ... (full story)