Johannesburg: Battle over abandoned mines unveils hidden riches

In the heart of Johannesburg, a modern-day gold rush is unfolding as illegal miners and mining companies race to extract precious gold from towering heaps of mine waste, reshaping the city’s landscape in the process.

South African mining companies, facing challenges in tapping underground gold deposits, have turned their attention to the vast slag heaps, shafts, and trenches left by generations of miners dating back to the 1880s gold rush that birthed the city.

Although Ghana has claimed the title of Africa’s top gold producer, South Africa, with over 100 active mines, including 44 around Johannesburg, remains a significant player. However, the nation’s gold production has seen a steady decline, reaching less than one-tenth of its 1970 levels by 2022.

Amid this decline, a new source of gold is emerging from the hills of waste, some decades old, left untouched as miners sought richer seams. Artisanal miners and illegal mining gangs, known as “zama zamas,” are now scavenging, recycling, and reworking leftover gold ore, often leading to clashes and even violence.

The illegal operations extend beyond abandoned sites, affecting active mines and posing financial threats to mining companies.

The “zama zamas,” primarily immigrants seeking opportunities in clandestine pits, endure harsh conditions and contribute to the complex dynamics of this gold rush.

Critics argue that major mining companies are only revisiting these waste sites now that the gold industry faces challenges. Despite the risks and environmental hazards, companies like Pan African Resources are capitalizing on the opportunity, employing techniques such as hydro mining to extract gold from the refuse.

The hills of waste, however, have become a battleground, with conflicting interests among illegal miners, mining companies, and rival gangs controlling access to the old mines.

The environmental impact is also evident, as mine company employees don anti-pollution masks while thousands live in shanty towns surrounded by debris. The air around the hills contains chemical and radioactive particles, highlighting the complex challenges of reviving gold extraction in a city once known as the “place of gold.”