Benoni, once a quiet suburb on Gauteng’s East Rand, has become the unexpected frontline of a growing underground war. Behind the sound of taxis and bustling township markets, another rhythm beats — the clatter of makeshift mining tools, the echo of gunfire at night, and the whispers of residents too scared to speak out.
Illegal mining — known locally as zama zama, meaning “those who try” — has existed for decades in abandoned mine shafts left behind after the collapse of gold operations across the East Rand. What began as small-scale scavenging by unemployed miners has transformed into a highly organized criminal enterprise.Authorities say dozens of shafts around Benoni, particularly near the outskirts of Daveyton, Etwatwa, and Kingsway, have become hot zones. Armed gangs, often made up of foreign nationals and local recruits, battle for control over the tunnels, using stolen explosives and weapons.
Residents describe a city under siege. Many have stopped leaving their homes after dark. “We hear gunshots almost every night,” says Thandeka Mokoena, a Northmead resident. “They fight underground, but when it spills out, it’s us who suffer.”Businesses have also been affected. Local shop owners near illegal mine dumps report extortion and intimidation from gang leaders who demand “protection fees.” The once-thriving informal trading areas now operate under a tense silence.
Despite regular raids, authorities admit the problem is far from under control. In recent months, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni Metro Police have conducted multiple joint operations, seizing weapons, stolen ore, and explosives.Colonel Mohlabi Motlhamme of the SAPS Benoni Cluster confirmed that at least 20 illegal miners have been arrested since September. However, most are released within days due to insufficient evidence or overcrowded detention facilities.“We are fighting an invisible enemy,” Motlhamme said. “For every tunnel we close, three more open overnight.”
The economic fallout of illegal mining stretches beyond Benoni. The Council for Geoscience estimates South Africa loses more than R49 billion annually through illicit mining and related damage to infrastructure. The abandoned mine shafts, poorly secured and unmonitored, have become breeding grounds for criminal syndicates involved in smuggling, drug trade, and human trafficking.Some shafts are as deep as 300 meters underground — a labyrinth where gangs operate like paramilitary groups, armed with assault rifles and makeshift explosives. They not only extract gold ore but also run illegal refineries hidden in nearby informal settlements.
The City of Ekurhuleni recently announced plans to launch a Task Force on Illegal Mining, in partnership with the Department of Mineral Resources and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The initiative will focus on sealing off abandoned shafts, tracing money trails, and introducing job opportunities for displaced miners.Community organizations are also stepping up. The Benoni Community Forum (BCF) has begun a neighborhood patrol system, using volunteer groups to report illegal activity. “We can’t wait for government alone,” says BCF chairperson Lucky Radebe. “If we want to take back our community, we must start with unity.
The story of Benoni mirrors a broader South African struggle — one of unemployment, inequality, and crime feeding off forgotten industrial spaces. As gold prices climb globally, the incentive for illegal miners to risk their lives underground only increases.For now, residents can only hope that their calls for safety will echo louder than the explosions beneath their feet.