Environment · 2026-10-31 · Morning briefing

Johannesburg's illegal gold rush creates sinkholes and scapegoats

A surge in illegal gold mining is scarring the landscape around Johannesburg, as soaring gold prices attract tens of thousands of informal miners, known as "zama zamas," to the region's abandoned shafts. The activity, which a 2019 estimate valued at $1bn in illegal exports annually, is being blamed for a proliferation of sinkholes. South Africa's mining minister stated in 2025 that the country has 6,100 derelict and ownerless mines, with 1,170 unsafe openings.

Local politicians have publicly attributed the collapsing ground to the zama zamas. However, some experts contend the miners are being scapegoated. Rosalind Morris, an anthropology professor at Columbia University, argues that the primary cause of the sinkholes is formal industrial mining. She states that these large-scale operations dewater the region by removing hundreds of millions of gallons of water from the ground each day, which destabilises the porous dolomitic rock common to the area.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• South Africa: Illegal mining putting Johannesburg infrastructure at risk
• Sinkholes, scarred land and scapegoats: the scourge of illegal gold mining in Johannesburg
• Illegal mining ravages S.Africa's economic hub | Afp | wfmz.com
• Illegal mining leaves Johannesburg facing R285m-plus infrastructure repair bill
• 12 killed in shooting spree at illegal miners’ site near Johannesburg

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