Illegal mining threat to lawful operations, safety and the environment

Illegal mining operations threaten the livelihood of legal operations, compromise the safety not only of the illegal operation’s workers but also the environment and threaten the surrounding communities and, therefore, have to be stopped, says Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) director Nico Pienaar.......
The land had previously been used as a gold processing plant for Durban Roodepoort Deep Mine and was left in an unrehabilitated state, with small deposits of gold still available on site. Illegal miners had moved in and built specially made processing tables to wash out the gold. The processed gold was being sold to illicit buyers.
http://www.miningweekly.com/article/illegal-mining-in-south-africa-a-growing-problem-that-has-to-be-stopped-2013-08-16