Freedom – zama-zama style
We force ourselves to go underground because we need to take care of our families
In an exclusive interview with a zama-zama, Brian* disclosed some interesting facts about their lives and what it takes to live in the dangerous world of illegal mining.
Illegal mining is not for the fainthearted; it requires a lot of bravery to spend three to four days underground. The Record met up with 30-year-old Brian, a Zimbabwean who came to South Africa in 2006 in the hope of finding greener pastures, but things didn’t go as planned.
Here is his story …
“I worked as a driver and machine operator in the Vrystaat until 2016, when I lost my job. Friends said I should come to Johannesburg because there are better opportunities here,” Brian explained.
“I ended up at Durban Deep where I started working as an illegal miner. It is not a good situation, you have to be brave to do this job. We force ourselves to go underground because we need to take care of our families.”
Brian, like all the other zama-zamas, spends three to four days underground. To prepare, they have to ensure they have money, enough food and water, headlamps, batteries, knee-pads (only a few are lucky enough to afford this luxury) and the right tools for the job. They use mealie meal sacks folded like nappies to protect their pants. “We have to pay the ‘guard’ a R50 entry fee to go underground. It is more than dark down there. If you headlamp goes out, you cannot dare to move because you might fall down another shaft or walk into something sharp. It is also then that you fight the biggest fight with yourself. Who am I? What am I doing here?”
Underground life can be dangerous, especially if you happen walk into the rival Basothos. “There are more Basothos than Zimbabweans. If you respond when they say something, you could be knifed. If they see you, they send someone ahead to call others and when you come back up, they kill you. The police and security guards offer little to no protection because they operate on corruption.”
Brian said the biggest lesson he had to learn was to trust no one, not even friends and family. “They can all turn against you.”
But, illegal mining is a lucrative business. According to Brian, there is still enough gold left for the zama-zamas to make a living, but not enough for a big mining company to extract gold. “All the work the illegals do underground is done without any power tools or mining equipment. We extract gold through hard labour and would only be able to fill one truck load if we put everything together. We usually work four in a team and make our own pillars to keep the roof up. After four days, we sometimes only get two buckets of ore and while we are paid per gold weight, this can sometimes amount to only R200.”
Adapting to this kind of lifestyle isn’t always easy, because, Brian said, if you are new you can get horribly lost in the underground network of tunnels. “It is like gambling – you never know when you are going to lose.”
Despite all the challenges, the zama-zamas are eager for the open cast mining project to commence. “It will be better. We will get rich,” he said with a smile. “When the ground is open, it’s easier for us to reach the gold ore. The zama-zamas are an eye-opener for mining companies. The companies didn’t know there was still gold, but crime is going to increase.”
Due to the illegal miners that are operating in the Durban Deep, Matholesville and Sol Plaatjes area, the economy has also received a much-needed boost. Food and goods vendors suddenly popped up, home-owners can now charge rent and the Roodepoort CBD is the main shopping town.
The women also earn an income for grinding the stone to dust before it is washed on the James tables. The tables are covered with towels to catch the gold.
Brian said they are not worried about the West Wits Mining Company moving in on their ‘territory’. “There is so much corruption and bribery in the companies as well. All we want to do is make a living and take care of our families.”
He was ready to go underground again, but not without a promise – that his face and identity will not be disclosed for fear of his life.
*Name changed to protect his identity.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
