Sinkholes, scarred land and scapegoats: the scourge of illegal gold mining in Johannesburg

The Guardian World | Fri, 30 Oct 2026 05:00:45 GMT

Gold's lure draws shadow,
Zama zamas dig deep night;
Cora tends the harmed.

There is no end in sight for the drivers of illegal mining, while police action appears ineffectiveCora Bailey has been encountering illegal miners ever since she first started treating injured animals in the townships around Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, in 1991. But as the price…

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