Illegal Mining Anti-Theft Technology and Security Intelligence Conference

For more than a century, South Africa was the world’s largest producer of gold, more of the precious metal having been extracted from its reserves than in the rest of the world combined. Today, however, many of these mines have closed and new waves of migrants are entering the abandoned but unsealed mine shafts to scavenge for the remaining gold. The most daring of these informal miners are called zama zamas.
Illegal mining is on the rise in South Africa and presents challenges that need to be addressed from a range of perspectives. Recently, three suspected illegal miners were arrested allegedly while loading illegally mined chrome worth more than R2 million onto a truck. Also more than 100 explosives and makeshift tools used for illegal mining were seized when authorities arrested six suspected illegal miners, or "zama zamas".
The rising unemployment rate in South Africa and economic uncertainties in the neighbouring countries drive people to participate in illegal mining activities as a means of survival. In South Africa alone, the unemployment rate has reached 32 per cent in the fourth quarter of the year 2020. As such, illegal activities (such as illegal mining) have become one of the sources of income for many unemployed people in the country including people from African countries who reside in South Africa.
Illegal mining takes place at abandoned mines and at operating mines. Illegal mining costs South Africa’s economy around R21 billion annually. Illegal gold mining has plagued South Africa’s mining companies for decades, robbing the industry and state coffers of billions of rand. There are reportedly thousands of Zama Zama’s working on the surface and underground which often organised and conducted by crime syndicates.
Therefore, the aim of this conference is to find solution to curb the illegal miner, who operate underground and surface, stealing gold, diamond, cable and coal ore. The conference will help using technology and the combination of law enforcement and security personnel to curb the illegal miners in Southern Africa and beyond.

To request for the brochure and book your seat, please contact Chris: 010 214 0666, 083 509 5002
Email: chris@maphosam.co.za