South Africa is criminalising illegal gold extraction while creating permits for artisanal miners, after an estimated R60 billion loss in 2024.
South Africa · MINING
Key Facts
—What happened South Africa adopted a national Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Policy in March 2022 and is now drafting laws to criminalise illegal gold extraction.
—How big Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe estimated R60 billion (about US$3.2 billion) was lost to illegal mining in 2024.
—The catch The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 never recognised artisanal mining, pushing most small operators into informality.
Zama zamas face much tougher penalties, including up to 30 years' in jail
After 150 years, South Africa finally classifies illegal mining as unlawful
South African security forces have arrested more than 200 people, most of them undocumented foreign nationals, in a major raid…
Criminal Procedure Act to clamp down on illegal prospecting and mining activities
Ghana has approved major changes to its mining laws to give the people more control, stop illegal mining, and increase the money…
Mali has created a new state agency to regulate artisanal gold mining after identifying up to $3
