A local resident from Springs reported that he found nuggets while digging in a cattle pen. Soon, dozens of people arrived at the site with pickaxes and shovels, eager to get rich. Scenes reminiscent of the gold rush experienced over a century ago have come alive again in this region, once the financial capital of South Africa.
Springs was once a thriving gold mining center, but its mines were closed several years ago due to the unprofitability of mining at significant depths.
Today, the town is surrounded by informal settlements, many of whose residents are migrants from neighboring countries.
The South African Department of Mineral Resources condemned illegal mining in the Gugulethu settlement this week and warned of potential ecological damage.
Some participants in the dig told the BBC that they managed to find gold and sell it on the black market. Dangerous chemicals, such as mercury and sodium cyanide, are used to separate gold from ore.
“We understand that this is illegal. We want the government to give us permits for mining so that we can work legally and pay taxes,” shared an anonymous man. He added that as a father of two children, he needs to earn money for their education and support.
Another dig participant stated, “This is the only way to earn money that we know. It has helped many of us avoid arrest for serious crimes.” One gram of gold costs about $100, while the minimum monthly wage in South Africa is $368.
Many of those working at the dig during the BBC film crew's visit came from Lesotho. Around 2 PM, after school ended, children began arriving to help their parents with gold mining.
BBC correspondents noted that some areas of land had become unstable, increasing the risk of injury or death, especially for children. The Department of Mining Industry warned in its statement about the potential consequences of uncontrolled earthworks.
Illegal mining is a widespread problem in South Africa, and many people have died in recent years due to working in unsafe conditions. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans to deploy the army to assist the police in combating criminal gangs and illegal mining.
Authorities accuse illegal miners, known as "zama-zama," of having ties to organized crime syndicates, although there is currently no official confirmation of this in Springs.
