After six months trapped underground, roughly 246 illegal miners were rescued at Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, in mid-January following a court order and intense public outcry.
Authors
- Andrew Grant
Associate Professor of Political Studies, Queen's University, Ontario
- Benjamin Ofosu-Atuahene
Ph.D Candidate specializing in Critical International Relations and Comparative Politics /Graduate Teaching Assistant, Queen's University, Ontario
- Olusola Ogunnubi
PhD Candidate/Researcher, Queen's University, Ontario
An estimated 2,000 miners had been trapped underground after police blocked food and water from families and supporters in an attempt to force them into surrendering for arrest. In total, 87 died, many from starvation or dehydration, according to civic groups. Some survivors reportedly resorted to eating cockroaches or the flesh of their deceased colleagues to survive.
Illegal miners, known as "zama zamas" in South Africa, are people who enter mining sites without authorization to extract leftover gold and other minerals, often under dangerous and exploitative conditions.
This incident highlights the current failures in security governance at abandoned mining sites. Rather than ensuring safety and protecting lives, the police response contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
To prevent similar tragedies, security governance at abandoned or closed mining sites must be improved, and inclusive policies that address employment needs must be implemented.
A dangerous occupation
As more mining sites in South Africa and across the world reach the end of their life cycles, the number of mine closures will increase , along with the need for more effective security governance.
The value of remaining minerals, combined with the dearth of alternatives to sustain livelihoods, has led some people to engage in illegal artisanal mining , despite the significant risks involved.
While illegal mining provides financial support for households in impoverished regions, it also releases pollutants into the environment, disrupts and degrades water resources and supports criminal networks .
South Africa is a prime example of these challenges. The country is home to an estimated 6,000 abandoned mines and 30,000 illegal miners . Security governance challenges are a major part of South Africa's socioeconomic reality , and these challenges continue to grow despite government crackdowns in recent years .
Current enforcement efforts are doing little to address the decades of poor post-mine closure management. South Africa's Petroleum and Mineral Resources Development Act requires mining companies to rehabilitate sites after closure, although compliance is sporadic, leaving communities and ecosystems at risk.
With limited job opportunities in the formal sectors of the economy , many young people aged 15 to 34 have turned to informal sectors, including illegal mining, due to its low entry barriers. Compounding the problem is the government's failure to legally distinguish between illegal and informal mining .
5 ways to improve security governance
The Buffelsfontein incident is a grim reminder that security governance cannot rely solely on policing tactics. Addressing the worsening socioeconomic cycle of miners trapped in abandoned and uncontrolled mines will require governments, companies and local communities to build stronger relationships before crises arise .
Solutions must recognize that zama zamas work with no safety equipment and face daily threats from criminal syndicates who control mining territories . We propose five solutions that, together, address the socioeconomic and governance challenges:
The Petroleum and Mineral Resources Development Act should be amended so mining permits are only granted when firms provide a mine closure security plan. This plan must include physical barriers like fencing and sealed shafts, with local communities involved in security enforcement . Funding would come from an independent relinquishment fund via annual contributions over the active lifespan of the mine to an interest-earning annuity held by a local financial institution and monitored by government and civil society.
Security efforts should combine private security firms with community-based approaches, including hiring local residents in monitoring roles. This approach will foster trust, create jobs, improve security governance and enhance environment, social and governance (ESG) investment ratings .
Drawing from successful models in other countries like Chile , drones, unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence monitoring methods can help monitor and secure high-risk areas. When used ethically, such technologies can reduce unauthorized mining activities.
With unemployment in South African mining regions exceeding 40 per cent , governments and the private sector must focus on renewable energy, agriculture and entrepreneurship as economic alternatives for mining communities. Germany's Emscher Park Project , for instance, has transformed coal mining regions into renewable energy hubs that create jobs and revitalize local economies. South Africa can also repurpose abandoned mining sites for such initiatives.
As South Africa turns its attention to critical minerals , it has an opportunity to expand its green bonds to include funding for post-closure financial recovery for mining communities. These funds could finance infrastructure projects, vocational training and education so mining communities can transition successfully to other economic sectors.
Lessons for Canada
Canada is no stranger to the challenges of managing mines after closure. Across the Yukon , Northwest Territories and northern parts of several provinces , tailing pond failures have led to environmental pollution during the post-closure phase of the mining cycle.
Investing in post-closure mine rehabilitation can prevent future harms to the environment, as well as enhance the human security of local communities . Green investors and sustainable finance funds like those informed by the Institute for Sustainable Finance must take a more active role in funding these efforts.
The Buffelsfontein tragedy should serve as a wake-up call: security governance must evolve from punitive enforcement to proactive protection. Providing alternative livelihoods to illegal mining weakens criminal networks, removes dangerous working conditions, reduces environmental harms and saves lives.
Though Canada is considered a mining superpower , it could learn valuable lessons from South Africa's experience. Adopting our suggested solutions could help Canada address its own abandoned mine risks and ensure a more sustainable future for its mining communities.
Andrew Grant has received grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Benjamin Ofosu-Atuahene has received funding in the form of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
Olusola Ogunnubi has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
