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The Citizen
18-07-2025
- The Citizen
Zama zamas undermine Gauteng with tunnels beneath roads and bridges
Gauteng's highways and suburbs are on the brink as zama zamas erodes vital ground support structures. Marius van der Merwe from QRF Task Team in an illegal mine tunnel on Wednesday in Benoni. Illegal mining in the area is causing major damage to infrastructure. Picture: Michel Bega Zama zamas' illegal underground mining has reached the point where highways and roads around Gauteng are in imminent danger of collapse. Geological research shows that the Witwatersrand reef system beneath Johannesburg is a sedimentary gold deposit formed millions of years ago by rivers and lakes. Over the decades, legitimate mining carved out vast underground networks supported by rock pillars deliberately left intact to stabilise the ground. Zama zamas are tunnelling under major roads When those mines were abandoned, much of the gold remained. For zama zamas, those remnants are the prize. To add to the instability, dolomite rock beneath much of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni is inherently unstable. ALSO READ: Stilfontein mines sealed, but not everyone is happy with the decision Johannesburg is literally built on a hollow honeycomb. Research by the University of Johannesburg found flooded mine voids increase hydrostatic pressure on dolomitic rock. A study by the University of Pretoria documented over 3 000 cases of subsidence and sinkholes across Gauteng, showing a clear link between disturbed dolomitic land and ground collapse. Places like Springs and Brakpan on the East Rand are seeing bridges slowly erode and roads collapsing, like the Rondebult Road sinkhole, the Snake Road sinkhole and, now, the N12. Bridges slowly erode and road collapsing Private security operative Marius van der Merwe said: 'Roads are literally falling away. The unused part of Eloff Street extension in central Joburg has collapsed twice because there's nothing holding it up any more. 'It's not even a sinkhole in the traditional sense; it's a tunnel right beneath the road surface that's been hollowed out. And it's happening in multiple places at the same time.' ALSO READ: Illegal mining: More than R30m spent on police operations at Stilfontein Illegal mining activity has wiped out Main Reef Road in Benoni, near the Weltevreden landfill. Picture: Michel Bega The Citizen has been there. Shafts lie exposed and gold washing takes place everywhere. Inside the zama zama tunnels there is evidence of mining equipment, the bare basics, old filthy shoes and overalls, half-eaten meals. Some zama zamas sleep underground every now and then, others stay for months. Miners sleep underground It's not unusual to be followed from underground while inspecting a zama zama site. Neither is it far-fetched to have an antiaircraft gun pointed at you from atop a mine dump. Remotely looking like a threat, whether you look like you may rob the miners of their ore or interfere in any way, invites a bullet. ALSO READ: Stilfontein: North West police believe illegal mining kingpin 'Tiger' is not dead Van der Merwe has been battling illegal mining for seven years, sometimes on behalf of clients and other times, because he has seen first-hand the damage done, even in neighbourhoods on the West Rand where he was raised. Illegal miners primarily repurpose old and unused mine shafts and tunnels by blasting away support structures left behind by previous miners which hold up the roofs of the mines. They also collect surface rocks and mine whatever else they can find that contains or may contain a smidgen of gold. Massive underground maze threatens the stability Right next to the M2 highway in downtown Joburg, stretching all the way to the old Eloff Street extension, a massive zama zama underground maze threatens the stability of all structures south of the double decker highway. Rocks are crushed using pandukas, a homemade crushing device powered by electric gate motors, both underground and on the surface, quite openly. ALSO READ: Operations to rescue trapped illegal miners in Roodepoort to continue [VIDEO] A section of the remaining tar of what used to be Main Reef Road in Benoni. Picture: Michel Bega The same happens at Putfontein in Springs and a host of other sites, including Muldersdrift through to sites in Roodepoort and Mogale City. Crushed rocks are washed using any available water source and the runoff, often containing poisonous chemicals like mercury and cyanide, flows back into the groundwater system, eventually into rivers and dams. Van der Merwe is presently engaged with communities where water pollution is not only threatening people, but also wildlife in far northwest Rand reserves. Entire community spring up catering to zama zamas On the Putfontein side of Benoni close to the N12, an entire community has spring up catering to zama zamas. Brothels, fast food, a creche. It's all there. All out in the open, thriving freely while Rome burns. ALSO READ: Trapped illegal miners crying for help at Roodepoort mine shaft, rescue efforts ongoing Van der Merwe spoke of an incident when his team chased illegal miners away from the foundations of the N17 highway bridge. 'They were removing the rock that supports the bridge itself because it contained traces of gold. 'That's the level of damage. 'National infrastructure threat' 'It's not just a community issue; it's a national infrastructure threat.' The police had not responded to questions about what law enforcement is doing about the scourge by the time of publication. NOW READ: Saftu wants zama zama industry regulated
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- The Citizen
Going into zama zama tunnels is to enter ‘another world'
A descent into illegal tunnels reveals how miners are undermining roads near Benoni, causing destruction and risking lives. Within seconds of passing under the N12 along Snake Road in Benoni, we pull over and park on the shoulder of the road. A number of curious, dusty heads immediately pop up above the tall grass, metres from the verge. Our security detail, provided by Marius van der Merwe of QRF Task Team, quickly enters into negotiations for access. We are here to photograph and video some illegal mining tunnels alongside the N12 and surrounds which are causing major damage to infrastructure. Illegal mining tunnels alongside the N12 After a few minutes we get the all clear. As we approach a makeshift campsite, security is on high alert with guns drawn. Van der Merwe ducks into a rocky opening no bigger than a metre in diameter, beckoning my colleague Shaun Holland and I in. With cars speeding along a major road 20m to the left of us, and the roaring N12 a little further on, we crouch through the opening and descend underground. ALSO READ: Police probe murder case after man found dead at Zamimpilo informal settlement [VIDEO] It's like another world. The opening is small and muddy, with condensation dripping off the roof and walls. The air is moist, thick and heavy. It's difficult to manoeuvre, ducking and clambering over mounds of compacted dirt and propylene sacks. We are descending at an incline of about 45 degrees and the damp floor makes it easy to slip. After a few metres the cave opens up enough to stand up, but the floor is still uneven and slippery. There are no support beams holding the earth above. Van der Merwe indicates collapses are common. Sinkhole caused by mining close to surface The mining is very close to the surface, which is how the sinkholes are formed. Then he takes us to Plastic City, on the border of Brakpan and Benoni. We go along Main Reef Road, but eventually the road runs out. Van der Merwe warns us that people in this area are heavily armed. What was a major arterial road is no more. Illegal mining flourishes where there was once tar. The destruction is catastrophic. NOW READ: Nearly 2 000 arrested during nationwide Vala Umgodi operations in April
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- The Citizen
Joshlin joins long list of missing girls in South Africa
Joshlin Smith's abduction reflects South Africa's worsening crisis of missing girls and deep-seated human trafficking and exploitation issues. T-shirt with Joshlin Smith's face outside court during the delivery of judgment in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial at White City Multipurpose Centre on May 02, 2025 in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach) Even as her mother was jailed for life yesterday, the real tragedy about Joshlin Smith's disappearance is that she joins a long line of missing girls over the past three decades. Their names made global headlines. Never forgotten. They are Joan Horn, Odette Boucher, Anne-Marie Wapenaar, Yolanda Wessels and Fiona Harvey. Six teenagers who went missing in the '80s as victims of paedophile Gert van Rooyen and his lover Joey Haarhoff. A three-year-old, Madeleine McCann, disappeared while on holiday with her family in Portugal in 2007. Gert van Rooyen's victims Some children are lucky and have been saved. Marius van der Merwe of QRF Task Team is frequently called in to aid with extractions of trafficked or kidnapped minors. He said the chances of finding Joshlin alive are slim. 'Once her mother took the money, that's it,' he said. 'You'll never see her again. It's like a car. Once you've paid for a voetstoots sale, you drive off and never see the seller again.' ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith sentencing: Kelly and co-accused handed life sentences He noted, as with previous cases of child trafficking that he was involved in, the motive for the sale of a child is economic circumstance or a dependency on drugs. Three years ago, he said, a case like Joshlin's saw parents sell their daughter for R50 000. On a tip-off, Van der Merwe, along with law enforcement, raided and extracted the toddler from the trafficker's den in Joburg. Case similar to Joshlin's three years ago 'She was a few days away from being sold,' he said. 'And then she'd have been gone, forever.' It is rare children are kidnapped, stolen, or sold, to childless couples who just want a kid of their own, Van der Merwe said. 'It's not that it never happens, but at least in instances like that you know the child will end up in a home where they are wanted and cared for.' ALSO READ: WATCH: The moment Joshlin Smith's mother was sentenced to life in prison In Madeleine McCann's case, Portuguese journalist Brendan de Beer has been investigating and covering the story for The Guardian and BBC's Panorama for some time. He said the parents were ruled out and so was human trafficking. 'A few other suspects have emerged as time's gone on, but nobody's been charged with it,' he said. 'It would appear the consensus among those who've investigated the case, is it was a crime of opportunity, as opposed to being part of an organised human trafficking network, which potentially would have made the job of police a lot easier had they known who to look for.' Kate McCann, mother of Madeleine, who disappeared in Portugal; Anne-Marie Wapenaar; Fiona Harvey; Yolanda Wessels; Odette Boucher and Joan Horn. Pictures: AFP and Gallo Images Van Rooyen six remain missing 35 years on The Van Rooyen six remain missing 35 years on. This despite a massive effort by law enforcement to solve the crime. 'Young girls are traded or stolen for two primary reasons,' Van der Merwe said. 'They are either sold as sex slaves or, if they are very young, raised to become sex slaves. ALSO READ: 'I looked for Joshlin when I was mourning my own daughter,' community member tells court 'Then, there are also paedophile rings who pay a premium for them, or they are sold off for human muti, slaughtered for their body parts. Particularly if they had attractive physical characteristics.' Van der Merwe said body parts like eyes, skin or organs are heavily traded in on the dark market, particularly north of the border. He added there are several syndicates in operation in South Africa and that it works like a well-oiled machine. Several syndicates operate in SA 'When a girl is 15 years old, she's ready to be put on the table, for sale,' another source said. Van der Merwe said the export market is often divided by race. 'African children are more likely to end up on the continent, while fairer females are often exported to the gulf region,' he said. Recently reports and testimonial videos of girls being followed around Pretoria shopping malls also surfaced on social media over the past few months. ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith sentencing: 'Kelly, you made our lives hell on earth,' says her mother The mother of a 15-year-old girl said her daughter was stalked at a neighbourhood shopping centre in the eastern suburbs of the capital recently. 'We had to confront the white male in his early 30s,' she said. Van der Merwe said there is substance to these narratives, but that social media posts are potentially diluting and sensationalising what's going on. Substance in narratives A former police operative said South Africa is becoming the human trafficking capital of the world. 'People need to see the warning signs attached to the Joshlin case and wake up to the reality.'
