insert_link Africa Three Chinese Nationals Sentenced in Congo for Illegal Mining Activities A Congolese court has sentenced three Chinese citizens to seven years in prison for being caught with gold bars and $400,000 in cash, convicted of illegal activities related to the artisanal mining sector. According to Reuters, these individuals are the first Chinese nationals to face trial since the Democratic Republic of Congo intensified efforts to curb unlicensed mining in its conflict-ridden eastern regions. todayJanuary 16, 2025 14
insert_link South Africa 118 Illegal Miners Rescued in South Africa’s Stillfontein South Africa's National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has rescued 118 illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West, as of yesterday, with 36 confirmed dead. Rescue efforts are ongoing using a specialist-operated cage. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe stated that 82 arrests have been made for illegal mining, trespassing, and immigration violations. todayJanuary 15, 2025 26
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s Stilfontein Mining Crisis Deemed Humanitarian Disaster by GOOD party The GOOD Party in S.A says the Stilfontein mining crisis in North West is a humanitarian disaster requiring urgent government intervention. The party accuses the government of violating constitutional rights by blocking rescue efforts and failing to address the socio-economic issues driving illegal mining. GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron, warns it become one of South Africa’s worst humanitarian failures: todayJanuary 9, 2025 27
insert_link Business / Economics Ministry Takes Action Against Xinfeng Investment for Illegal Mining The Mines and Energy ministryhas filed a police case against Xinfeng Investment for illegal mining in Uis, Erongo. The company was caught mining lithium under an exploration license during an unannounced inspection. Anna Salkeus from the ministry provided further details. todayDecember 19, 2024 24
insert_link South Africa S.A. Cabinet Backs Crackdown on Crime and Illegal Mining S.A's Cabinet has strongly condemned the increasing crime rate and expressed full support for efforts to combat illegal mining. It also commended a successful police operation in North West which resulted in the arrest of over one-thousand illegal miners. Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says government is committed to tackling these issues with stronger law enforcement and stricter measures to curb illegal mining, which fuels the rise in criminal […] todayNovember 14, 2024 36
insert_link South Africa More Illegal Miners Found In S.A’s North West Here's an update on our 6am news story on South Africa's North West police who say 565 illegal miners have resurfaced from abandoned mine shafts in Orkney during a Vala Umgodi operation. They resurfaced from a maze of underground tunnels due to hunger and dehydration. Since the inception of operation Vala Umgodi in December last year, more than 13-thousand-691 suspects have been arrested in the seven provinces that are hotspots […] todayNovember 4, 2024 71
insert_link South Africa 225 illegal miners resurface from underground in S.A’s North West province A total of 225 illegal miners resurfaced from underground in Orkney Mine in North West yesterday due to starvation and dehydration. Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe says they are part of what is believed to be hundreds if not a thousand of illegal miners who are stuck underground with no food, water and necessities because the routes used to deliver food and necessities to these illegal miners, are blocked by vala […] todayNovember 4, 2024 47
insert_link Africa Ghana is Africa’s largest gold producer, but it has an illegal mining issue: 5 essential reads By Godfred Boafo, The Conversation Ghana is one of the world’s gold hotspots. It is Africa’s largest producer of gold and it ranks sixth globally. In 2023, 4 million ounces were produced. It is essential to Ghana’s economy, contributing around 7% of gross domestic product. Ghana’s gold mines are found in most parts of the country, and the mining history can be traced back hundreds of years. However, […] todaySeptember 11, 2024 26
insert_link Africa Ghana’s forests are being wiped out: what’s behind this and why attempts to stop it aren’t working By John Tennyson Afele, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Ghana has around 7.9 million hectares of forested land (35% of the total land area), according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Around 7.6 million hectares are primary or naturally regenerated forest, and around 297,000 hectares are planted forest. In 2022, Ghana lost 18,000 hectares of primary forest, a nearly 70% increase from […] todayMay 15, 2024 57