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BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
BBC uncovers child sex abuse in South Africa's illegal mines
This story contains details, including a video, that some people may find distressing. The most shocking thing for Jonathan, who had endured six gruelling months living and working underground in an abandoned South African gold mine, was the abuse he witnessed being meted out to children. Some are recruited for cheap labour, but others are brought in specifically for sex, campaigners say. Jonathan, now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines, closed by multinationals because they were no longer commercially viable. We are protecting his full identity as he fears reprisals from the vicious criminal gangs that run the illegal mining industry for speaking to the media. Details of what the young people were going though emerged after the death of dozens of illegal miners near the town of Stilfontein late last year when the mine was blockaded by police. In a calm and steady voice, Jonathan describes the heat, long hours and limited food and sleeping options which took a toll on his body. But an enduring memory is what happened to the underage miners in the shaft where he worked. "I used to see these kids in the mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds. "Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn't comfortable with it." He said they were raped by adult miners who promised to give them some of the gold they found in exchange for sex. "If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk." Jonathan describes how the children would approach teams of miners for protection but "that team would have conditions". Sex was also used as punishment if the teenagers failed to complete a task for their team. Jonathan says the children in the mine where he worked were all foreign and did not realise what they were getting themselves into. Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli backs this up. He says criminal gangs specifically target children to work in illegal mines across South Africa. Many of them are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked. They are enticed by baseless promises of finding them employment in the formal mining industry. "Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa… It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused," Mr Sefuli says. The BBC has spoken to miners who worked in at least two other illegal mines who told us they saw children being abused in the shafts where they were working. Tshepo, not his real name, says he saw older men forcing young boys to have sex with them underground. "In some instances, they did it for the money. Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground." He adds that the abuse deeply affected the children. "They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don't want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone." South Africa's illegal mining industry made global headlines last year following a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein in the North West Province. Trapped underground with decaying bodies, miners faced a dark reality Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines The authorities had been trying to curb illegal mining, which the government said cost South Africa's economy $3.2bn (£2.6bn) in lost revenue last year. They launched an operation called Vala Umgodi, or seal the hole, in December 2023, promising to take a tough stance on the gangs. As part of the operation, the police limited the amount of food and water that went down the Stilfontein mine to, as one minister put it, "smoke out" the illegal miners. Officials said the men were refusing to come out for fear of being arrested. Soon footage began to emerge from within the mine showing dozens of emaciated men begging to be rescued, as well as rows of body bags. Eventually a court ordered the authorities to save the men. Among those brought up were many who said they were underage, but as a number of them were migrants without documents confirming how old they were, the authorities carried out medical tests to get an estimate. Through this, the Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were repatriated. Save the Children South Africa helped translate some of the interviews between the underage miners and the rescue workers. "They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being sexually exploited," the charity's CEO Gugu Xaba tells the BBC. "Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. "The adult miners would start by grooming them, by acting like they like them." She says the children were then made to perform sexual acts on the adults and they were then raped, days after day. "You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to." Ms Xaba says mining gangs recruit children because they are easier to manipulate and cheaper. "Children don't understand when you say: 'I'll pay you 20 rands ($1; £0.80) per day.' The adults sometimes refuse to work, but children find themselves with no choice. So it's easier to use a child to do the work. It's easier to take a child who's kind of voiceless and to bring them down there." Beyond being exploited financially, she says there are gangs that recruit children specifically for sex. Many illegal miners spend months underground, rarely going up to the surface. Markets spring up underground to provide them with anything they need. "Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you've got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker." The BBC asked the police and the DSD whether anyone would be charged over the sexual abuse allegations. They did not respond to our requests. A source working on the Stilfontein miners' cases said many of the children did not want to testify. Meanwhile, the illegal mining industry continues to thrive. And with an estimated 6,000 vacant mines potentially available to explore, it is a business that is unlikely to end anytime soon, leaving thousands of vulnerable children at risk. More South Africa stories from the BBC: Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over Starlink The expelled envoy at the heart of the latest US-South Africa row Race policies or Israel - what's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa? Even in his final seconds of life, first gay imam pushed boundaries Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Child abuse South Africa Africa
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Child sex ring horror in South Africa's illegal mines: Witnesses describe how youths are sent underground and passed around by miners to be raped
Underage workers are being abused in illegal South African gold mines, an investigation has found. Minors are being recruited for both cheap labour and to exploit them for sex, according to the BBC. Most of the children in the mine are foreign and do not understand what they are getting into, according to a whistleblower. Jonathan, now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines. These mines have previously been closed by multinational firms due to a lack of commercial viability, but are still utilised by illegal workers and controlled by criminal gangs. During his six months labouring underground, he said workers faced long hours with limited food and sleeping options in hot conditions at a mine near Stilfontein, which was put under siege by police last year. Up to 100 miners are believed to have died in the blockade. However, Jonathan, who's identity is being protected for fear of retribution from the criminal gangs who operate the mines, also spoke of the horrific treatment of underage miners. Sex was used by adult workers both as a punishment for the child workers and as 'payment' for any gold they found. These mines have previously been closed by multinational firms due to a lack of commercial viability, but are still utilised by illegal workers 'I used to see these kids in the mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds,' he told the BBC. 'Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn't comfortable with it. 'If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk.' Tshepo, another former worker turned whistleblower, said older men were sexually abusing underage workers while underground. He added: 'In some instances, they did it for the money. 'Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground. 'They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don't want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone.' Save the Children South Africa have said that adults working in the mine groom the children over time before the abuse. The charity's CEO Gugu Xaba said: 'They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being sexually exploited. 'Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. 'You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to. 'Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you've got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker. 'Children find themselves with no choice. So it's easier to use a child to do the work.' Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli said criminal gangs specifically target children to work in illegal mines across South Africa. Many of these children are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked under the false promise of formal employment in the mining industry. He said: 'Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa. 'It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused.' Authorities have attempted to curb illegal mining, launching a major operation in December 2023 called Vala Umgodi - translated as 'seal the hole'. Last year a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein, saw authorities cut off any food, water or medical supplies going into the mine in order to force workers to the surface. The Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were repatriated. The police and DSD did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by the BBC.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
BBC expose child sex abuse for South Africa illegal mines
Dis story contain details, including video, wey some pipo fity find distressing. Di most shocking tin for Jonathan, wey don endure six tough months dey live and work underground for one abandoned South African gold mine, na di abuse wey e witness wey children dey suffer. Some dey recruited for cheap labour, but dem bring odas in specifically for sex, campaigners tok. Jonathan, now e dey im late 20s, don migrate to South Africa from one nearby kontri on di promise to make easy money as e dey work in one of it dozens of mines wey dem no dey use well, closed by multinationals becos dem no longer dey commercially viable. We dey protect im full identity as e fear attacks from di violent criminal gangs wey dey run di illegal mining industry sake of e tok to di media. Details of wetin di young pipo dey go though show afta di death of dozens of illegal miners near di town of Stilfontein late last year wen police block di mine. For one calm and steady voice, Jonathan describe di heat, long hours and limited food and sleeping options wey take a toll on im bodi. But one enduring memory na wetin happun to di underage miners in di shaft wia e bin work. "I use to see dis kids in di mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds. "Odas use to take advantage of dem sometimes. IE dey fear small-small, and I bin no dey comfortable wit am." E say di adult miners dey rape dem and dey promise to give dem some of di gold dey find in exchange for sex. "If dat kid dey desperate for money, e go take di risk." Jonathan describe how di children go approach teams of miners for protection but "say di team go get conditions". Sex also dey used as punishment if di teenagers fail to complete a task for dia team. Jonathan say di children in di mine wia e dey work be all foreign and no realise wetin dem dey get demselves into. Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli back dis up. E say criminal gangs specifically dey target children to work in illegal mines across South Africa. Many of dem dey abducted from neighbouring kontries and trafficked. Dem dey enticed by baseless promises say dem go find dem employment in di formal mining industry. "Dia passports dey confiscated wen dem enta South Africa… Na common knowledge say dis young boys dey abused," Oga Sefuli tok. Di BBC don tok to miners wey dey work in at least two oda illegal mines wey tell us say dem see children wey dey abused in di shafts wia dem dey work. Tshepo, no be im real name, say e bin see older men dey force young boys to have sex wit dem underground. "In some instances, dey bin do am for di money. Some dey recruited only for dat purpose, sake of di financial incentives wey go come wit di practice of maybe trading sex underground." E add say di abuse deeply affect di children. "Dey change dia behaviour patterns and get trust issues. Dem no want you to get close to dem, sake of say dey feel say dey no longer fit trust anyone." South Africa illegal mining industry bin make global headlines last year following one standoff between police and miners for di Buffelsfontein gold mine, near di town of Stilfontein in di North West Province. Di authorities don dey try to reduce illegal mining, wey di govment say di cost South Africa economy $3.2bn (£2.6bn) in lost revenue last year. Dey bin launch one operation Vala Umgodi, or seal di hole, in December 2023, wit promise to take a tough stance on di gangs. As part of di operation, di police bin limit di amount of food and water wey bin go down di Stilfontein mine to, as one minister put am, "smoke out" di illegal miners. Officials say di men no gree come out sake of fear say dem go dey arrested. Soon video begin show from within di mine wey show dozens of emaciated men wey dey beg for rescue, as well as rows of bodi bags. Eventually one court bin order di authorities to save di men. Among those dem bring up na many wey say dem dey underage, but as a number of dem na migrants without documents wey confam how old dem dey, di authorities bin carry out medical tests to get estimate. Through dis, di Department of Social Development (DSD) bin confam say dem find say 31 of di rescued Stilfontein miners na children. Dey all be Mozambican nationals and in November, 27 of dem dey repatriated. Save di Children South Africa bin help translate some of di interviews between di underage miners and di rescue workers. "Dem bin go through trauma, sake of say some of dem bin also see odas dey sexually exploited," di charity CEO Gugu Xaba tell di BBC. "Just di feeling say dey fit no come out of there bin destroy those children mentally. "Di adult miners go start by grooming dem, by acting like say dey like dem." She say dey go den make di children to perform sexual acts on di adults and den rape dem, days afta day. "You find say di adult go get three or four of dem wey dem dey do di same tin to." Ms Xaba say mining gangs dey recruit children sake of say dem dey easier to manipulate and cheaper. "Children no understand wen you say: 'I go pay you 20 rands ($1; £0.80) per day.' Di adults sometimes dey refuse to work, but children find demselves wit no choice. So e dey easier to use a child to do di work. E dey easier to take a child wey dey one kind voiceless and to bring dem down dia." Beyond say dem dey exploit dem financially, she say gangs dey wey dey recruit children specifically for sex. Many illegal miners dey spend months underground, rarely go up to di surface. Markets dey spring up underground to provide dem wit anytin dey need. "Most children dey trafficked in order to dey used as sex slaves. And you get a pimp wey dey take di money, and e mean say every day dis child dey used as commercial sex worker." Di BBC bin ask di police and di DSD whether anyone go dey charged over di sexual abuse allegations. Dey no respond to our requests. One source wey dey work on di Stilfontein miners cases tok say many of di children no wan testify. Meanwhile, di illegal mining industry kontinu to thrive. And wit estimate of 6,000 vacant mines wey dey potentially available to explore, na one business dey unlikely to end anytime soon, e leave thousands of vulnerable children at risk.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
BBC uncovers child sex abuse in South Africa's illegal mines
This story contains details, including a video, that some people may find distressing. The most shocking thing for Jonathan, who had endured six gruelling months living and working underground in an abandoned South African gold mine, was the abuse he witnessed being meted out to children. Some are recruited for cheap labour, but others are brought in specifically for sex, campaigners say. Jonathan, now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines, closed by multinationals because they were no longer commercially viable. We are protecting his full identity as he fears reprisals from the vicious criminal gangs that run the illegal mining industry for speaking to the media. Details of what the young people were going though emerged after the death of dozens of illegal miners near the town of Stilfontein late last year when the mine was blockaded by police. In a calm and steady voice, Jonathan describes the heat, long hours and limited food and sleeping options which took a toll on his body. But an enduring memory is what happened to the underage miners in the shaft where he worked. "I used to see these kids in the mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds. "Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn't comfortable with it." He said they were raped by adult miners who promised to give them some of the gold they found in exchange for sex. "If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk." Jonathan describes how the children would approach teams of miners for protection but "that team would have conditions". Sex was also used as punishment if the teenagers failed to complete a task for their team. Jonathan says the children in the mine where he worked were all foreign and did not realise what they were getting themselves into. Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli backs this up. He says criminal gangs specifically target children to work in illegal mines across South Africa. Many of them are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked. They are enticed by baseless promises of finding them employment in the formal mining industry. "Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa… It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused," Mr Sefuli says. The BBC has spoken to miners who worked in at least two other illegal mines who told us they saw children being abused in the shafts where they were working. Tshepo, not his real name, says he saw older men forcing young boys to have sex with them underground. "In some instances, they did it for the money. Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground." He adds that the abuse deeply affected the children. "They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don't want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone." South Africa's illegal mining industry made global headlines last year following a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein in the North West Province. Trapped underground with decaying bodies, miners faced a dark reality Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines The authorities had been trying to curb illegal mining, which the government said cost South Africa's economy $3.2bn (£2.6bn) in lost revenue last year. They launched an operation called Vala Umgodi, or seal the hole, in December 2023, promising to take a tough stance on the gangs. As part of the operation, the police limited the amount of food and water that went down the Stilfontein mine to, as one minister put it, "smoke out" the illegal miners. Officials said the men were refusing to come out for fear of being arrested. Soon footage began to emerge from within the mine showing dozens of emaciated men begging to be rescued, as well as rows of body bags. Eventually a court ordered the authorities to save the men. Among those brought up were many who said they were underage, but as a number of them were migrants without documents confirming how old they were, the authorities carried out medical tests to get an estimate. Through this, the Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were repatriated. Save the Children South Africa helped translate some of the interviews between the underage miners and the rescue workers. "They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being sexually exploited," the charity's CEO Gugu Xaba tells the BBC. "Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. "The adult miners would start by grooming them, by acting like they like them." She says the children were then made to perform sexual acts on the adults and they were then raped, days after day. "You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to." Ms Xaba says mining gangs recruit children because they are easier to manipulate and cheaper. "Children don't understand when you say: 'I'll pay you 20 rands ($1; £0.80) per day.' The adults sometimes refuse to work, but children find themselves with no choice. So it's easier to use a child to do the work. It's easier to take a child who's kind of voiceless and to bring them down there." Beyond being exploited financially, she says there are gangs that recruit children specifically for sex. Many illegal miners spend months underground, rarely going up to the surface. Markets spring up underground to provide them with anything they need. "Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you've got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker." The BBC asked the police and the DSD whether anyone would be charged over the sexual abuse allegations. They did not respond to our requests. A source working on the Stilfontein miners' cases said many of the children did not want to testify. Meanwhile, the illegal mining industry continues to thrive. And with an estimated 6,000 vacant mines potentially available to explore, it is a business that is unlikely to end anytime soon, leaving thousands of vulnerable children at risk. Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over Starlink The expelled envoy at the heart of the latest US-South Africa row Race policies or Israel - what's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa? Even in his final seconds of life, first gay imam pushed boundaries Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
South Africa's illegal mines: BBC uncovers child sex abuse
This story contains details, including a video, that some people may find most shocking thing for Jonathan, who had endured six gruelling months living and working underground in an abandoned South African gold mine, was the abuse he witnessed being meted out to are recruited for cheap labour, but others are brought in specifically for sex, campaigners now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines, closed by multinationals because they were no longer commercially are protecting his full identity as he fears reprisals from the vicious criminal gangs that run the illegal mining industry for speaking to the of what the young people were going though emerged after the death of dozens of illegal miners near the town of Stilfontein late last year when the mine was blockaded by a calm and steady voice, Jonathan describes the heat, long hours and limited food and sleeping options which took a toll on his an enduring memory is what happened to the underage miners in the shaft where he worked. "I used to see these kids in the mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds."Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn't comfortable with it."He said they were raped by adult miners who promised to give them some of the gold they found in exchange for sex."If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk."Jonathan describes how the children would approach teams of miners for protection but "that team would have conditions".Sex was also used as punishment if the teenagers failed to complete a task for their says the children in the mine where he worked were all foreign and did not realise what they were getting themselves into. Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli backs this says criminal gangs specifically target children to work in illegal mines across South of them are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked. They are enticed by baseless promises of finding them employment in the formal mining industry."Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa… It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused," Mr Sefuli BBC has spoken to miners who worked in at least two other illegal mines who told us they saw children being abused in the shafts where they were not his real name, says he saw older men forcing young boys to have sex with them underground."In some instances, they did it for the money. Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground."He adds that the abuse deeply affected the children."They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don't want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone."South Africa's illegal mining industry made global headlines last year following a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein in the North West Province. Trapped underground with decaying bodies, miners faced a dark realityInside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines The authorities had been trying to curb illegal mining, which the government said cost South Africa's economy $3.2bn (£2.6bn) in lost revenue last launched an operation called Vala Umgodi, or seal the hole, in December 2023, promising to take a tough stance on the part of the operation, the police limited the amount of food and water that went down the Stilfontein mine to, as one minister put it, "smoke out" the illegal miners. Officials said the men were refusing to come out for fear of being footage began to emerge from within the mine showing dozens of emaciated men begging to be rescued, as well as rows of body bags. Eventually a court ordered the authorities to save the men. Among those brought up were many who said they were underage, but as a number of them were migrants without documents confirming how old they were, the authorities carried out medical tests to get an this, the Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were the Children South Africa helped translate some of the interviews between the underage miners and the rescue workers."They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being sexually exploited," the charity's CEO Gugu Xaba tells the BBC."Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. "The adult miners would start by grooming them, by acting like they like them."She says the children were then made to perform sexual acts on the adults and they were then raped, days after day."You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to." Ms Xaba says mining gangs recruit children because they are easier to manipulate and cheaper."Children don't understand when you say: 'I'll pay you 20 rands ($1; £0.80) per day.' The adults sometimes refuse to work, but children find themselves with no choice. So it's easier to use a child to do the work. It's easier to take a child who's kind of voiceless and to bring them down there."Beyond being exploited financially, she says there are gangs that recruit children specifically for illegal miners spend months underground, rarely going up to the surface. Markets spring up underground to provide them with anything they need."Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you've got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker."The BBC asked the police and the DSD whether anyone would be charged over the sexual abuse allegations. They did not respond to our requests.A source working on the Stilfontein miners' cases said many of the children did not want to the illegal mining industry continues to with an estimated 6,000 vacant mines potentially available to explore, it is a business that is unlikely to end anytime soon, leaving thousands of vulnerable children at risk. More South Africa stories from the BBC: Racially charged row between Musk and South Africa over StarlinkThe expelled envoy at the heart of the latest US-South Africa rowRace policies or Israel - what's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa?Even in his final seconds of life, first gay imam pushed boundaries Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
