14 Miners Found Dead at Disused South African  Mine

At least 14 artisanal miners have died and dozens of others were injured at a disused mine near Rustenburg in South Africa’s North West province, police said on Tuesday.

The South African Police Service said the miners were found dead at the mine, about 130 km (80 miles) northwest of Johannesburg.

Police did not provide details on the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The provincial police commissioner was travelling to the mine, the service said.

South Africa has tens of thousands of artisanal miners who operate illegally in abandoned gold and platinum mines, often searching for deposits left behind by mining companies. The miners frequently work without adequate safety equipment and can remain underground for weeks.

Rustenburg is a major platinum mining hub in South Africa, which has the world’s largest platinum reserves.

Illegal mining is a longstanding problem in South Africa and authorities have linked it to criminal syndicates. Informal miners, known locally as zama zamas, a term loosely translated as “chance takers”, often operate in gangs and have been involved in violent clashes with rivals.

The latest deaths follow a major illegal mining disaster in late 2024, when hundreds of miners became trapped underground at a gold mine that had been surrounded by police.

The standoff lasted for months and more than 80 miners died underground, according to authorities.

President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year deployed soldiers in a yearlong operation aimed at tackling organised crime, with illegal mining among the areas targeted.

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