Over 80 illegal miners died after an underground fire at a Harmony gold mine in 2009. In March 2012, at least 20 workers were buried alive after a rockfall hit a closed gold mine in the eastern South African province of Gauteng.
Accidents are not the only life threat to these people. Bloomberg’s report highlights that gang violence, robbery and prostitution have also began to claim their victims, as the illegal operations have become a scene of deadly gang warfare between rival factions.
The South African government estimates that 14,000 people are involved in illegal mining throughout the country, the world’s fourth-biggest gold exporter.
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