SocietySinkholes, scarred land and scapegoats: illegal gold mining plagues Johannesburg

Rising gold prices have intensified illegal mining in abandoned shafts around Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. Cora Bailey, who runs an animal welfare charity there, said miners’ water use once left the organisation with almost none, while police action did not stop a smaller group from returning. Researchers estimate tens of thousands of illegal miners operate in South Africa, amid persistent economic and governance drivers.

illegal mininggoldJohannesburgSouth Africa

TThe Guardian★★☆☆☆2026-10-30 05:00Original