Some illegal miners at Sheba Gold Mine say ready to go back underground
They argued that the risk of arrest or injury was worth it, claiming that the mine offered them nothing but empty promises.
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Mine management disagreed, saying it was investing in job creation and that illegal mining was killing legitimate employment.
In the days since Operation Vala Umgodi began, more than 550 people have been taken into custody at Sheba Gold Mine.
Yet, speaking to EWN, some miners said the risks, including arrest, injury or even death, were still worth taking if it means earning an income.
One former miner described the underground tunnels as both a workplace and a refuge, a place where miners could spend weeks below ground, sustained by supplies smuggled through hidden routes.
"We're going to come back several times, until we die, until the Barberton mine starts to recognise this community. We will never, ever allow people from outside to vandalise our infrastructure down there."
On the other hand, Sheba Mine argued that its CSI projects offered long-term jobs and stability but were being undermined by the impact of illegal mining.
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