14 Illegal Miners Killed After Rockfall at Disused Mineshaft Near Rustenburg, SA Debates the Tragedy
- The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that illegal miners were killed at an abandoned mine shaft
- Police spokeswoman Colonel Adele Myburgh provided details about which country many of the victims came from
- South Africans weighed in on the news of the tragedy, sharing varied reactions to the issue of illegal mining in the country
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
NORTH WEST — Fourteen illegal miners have been killed, and at least eight others were injured at an abandoned mine shaft near the Nkaneng informal settlement, close to Rustenburg in the North West province.
According to North West police, the illegal miners were killed after a rockfall inside the shaft on Monday night, 1 August 2026.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Adele Myburgh said the rockfall occurred at a disused mine, adding that an unknown number of miners may still be trapped beneath the surface.
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Illegal miners identified as Basotho nationals
Colonel Myburgh also confirmed that most of the deceased were identified as Basotho nationals.
She added that officials were dispatched to the site following the initial report, with authorities working to determine whether additional miners remained underground.
Illegal miners, commonly referred to as "Zama Zamas," operate across South Africa's abandoned and active mines, driven largely by poverty and unemployment. The illegal mining sector in South Africa has long been associated with organised crime, extortion, and violence, drawing workers from several countries across the southern African region.
South Africans react to the news
The incident drew a swift response from social media users, with opinions divided over accountability and risk.
Fikile Kumanda asked:
"Why was the disused mine not properly closed? The Department of Mineral Resources must account for this one."
Afticanaa Southh commented:
"Eish, well they knew it's risky, but you know hustle is hustle. I don't blame them."
Ilse Janse van Vuuren said:
"And then resources are used to get them out of there, but the same resources aren’t used to catch them."
No Zihstak remarked:
"There's a reason the mine was disused. Guess they had to find out the hard way."
Other stories about illegal mining in the North West
Briefly News has done numerous stories about illegal mining in the North West, with Stilfontein dominating the headlines.
- More than 140 illegal miners resurfaced from the Margaret Shaft in Stilfontein in Potchefstroom in November 2024.
- In January 2025, illegal miners at the Stilfontein Mine in the North West said they were trapped with scores of dead bodies.
- South Africans were left speechless after it was reported that the zama zamas were allegedly eating human flesh.
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Source: Briefly News
