BARBERTON – Pan African Resources, South Africa’s leading gold producer says there are no illegal mining camps currently underground at its Barberton site.
This is according to the mine companies spokesperson Hethen Hira who says security have done an full sweep and there are no illegal minders underground.
This despite more zama zamas resurfacing from the Sheba Mine.
Last week at least over 400 illegal miners were arrested at Sheba Mine with 24 more surfacing on Monday.
According to Hira the area is full of old and unused mining tunnels, which makes it easier for illegal miners to slip in and hide.
“Because of the long history of mining in the area, there are many old excavations. People can go down and set up camp in disused areas, which are uneconomical, and that’s where illegals are found,” he explained.
Hira maintains that there access control at the mine and that this is not another Stillfontein saga referring to the well-known case where miners were were nabbed in an old, unused mine.
Meanwhile National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu say they are not convinced that there are no more miners
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