Sinkholes, Scarred Land and Scapegoats: Illegal Gold Mining Crisis Grips Johannesburg

In Johannesburg’s western townships, illegal gold miners known as zama zamas are digging ever deeper into abandoned mine shafts, leaving behind sinkholes, scarred land and a community on edge. Cora Bailey, founder of Community Led Animal Welfare (Claw) in Roodepoort, has witnessed the surge firsthand since 1991, but the recent spike in gold prices has drawn dozens of miners to the area, often within sight of her charity. The term zama zama, from Zulu for “to take a chance,” reflects the desperate gamble these miners take daily. Despite police operations, the drivers of illegal mining remain unresolved, and enforcement appears largely ineffective. The environmental damage is severe, with unstable ground threatening homes and lives. For residents, the miners are both a familiar presence and a growing menace, while authorities struggle to address the root causes: poverty, unemployment, and a lucrative black market for gold. As gold prices continue to climb, the pressure on these communities is unlikely to ease soon. The question remains: will Johannesburg find a way to reclaim its scarred land, or will the sinkholes keep spreading?