In South Africa, illegal miners known as zama zamas, like Ndumiso, navigate deadly gang-controlled gold mines, driven by financial necessity. After losing his job in the formal mining sector, Ndumiso turned to hazardous underground work, earning significantly more despite the…

In Stilfontein, South Africa, a tense standoff unfolds between police and hundreds of illegal miners, known as ‘Zama Zamas,’ occupying an abandoned gold mine. Police have cordoned off the area, demanding the miners to surface, while residents express fears for…

In South Africa, dozens of volunteers have entered an abandoned gold mine to aid illegal miners trapped for nearly a month. Authorities, taking a firm stance against these undocumented miners—known as ‘zama zama’—have blocked essential supplies, leading to accusations of…