OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
https://doi.org/10.64211/oidaijsd190513
The Lived Experiences of Illicit Miners In Orkney Northwest Province, South Africa
Beauty Thabisile Lebitso
College of Law, School of Criminal Justice, Department of Police Practice
University of South Africa, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa
Corresponding author: mabasbt@unisa.ac.za
Volume 19, Issue 05, Pg. 175-182, 2026.
Abstract: The proliferation of illicit mining operations within the South Africa’s extractive industries, particularly in Orkney located in Northwest Province has emerged as a pressing socio-economic and law enforcement concern. Recent intervention of the South African Police Service (SAPS) regarding operation “Vala umgodi” (seal the holes) have sought to disrupt subterranean networks by obstructing supply routes used to sustain unauthorised miners operating underground. In light of these developments, this study investigates the lived experiences of illicit miners and critically examines the operational strategies employed by the SAPS to mitigate illicit mining activities. The research is situated within the broader context of systematic youth unemployment, which has contributed to the entrenchment of informal and illicit economic practices among marginalized populations. A qualitative research design was adopted to facilitate nuanced inquiry into the phenomenon. Purposive sampling enabled the selection of law enforcement personnel directly engaged in anti-illicit mining operations, while snowball sampling was employed to access dispersed networks of illicit miners and elicit their perspectives. Data collection was conducted through semi structured interviews, allowing for rich contextualised insights into both enforcement challenges and the socio-economic drivers of illicit mining activities. This study further disclosed that illicit miners are educated human being who came to south Africa with the purpose of finding greener pastures, of major concern is that there are different groups of illicit miners who also wants to partake in illicit mining activities. Illicit miners are constantly burnt to death underground due to lack knowledge on how to use chemicals. Likewise, police official and red dot trained security personnel often retrieved charcoaled bodies with no heads, arms, and legs. The study further discovered that law enforcers often traumatised by such issues and some further attends employee health and wellness (EHW) to receive counselling. The major concerns from law enforcers are that illicit miners came to South Africa illegally and it is extremely problematic to trace family members of the illicit miners. The study also revealed that the address given to police officials is not valid, thus situation further led to the government to organise pauper funeral for all illicit miners. The findings of the study reveal that participants engaged in mineral extraction often resorting to re-opening sealed shafts through explosive means. The study further identifies a nexus between illicit mining and broader patterns of criminality underscoring the complexity of underground economies in post-industrial mining regions. The article therefore recommend that illicit activities should be legalised, and new legislative should be formulated with the aim of supporting illicit miners.
Keywords: Abandoned mines, Illicit miners, Illicit mining, Mining shaft, Small scale mining
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