12-YEAR-OLDS EXPLOITED IN ILLEGAL GOLD MINING

NTFONJENI – The Lufafa Mountain was once revered for painting the landscape of Hhelehhele with its natural beauty but today, its image has been tainted by illegal mining an exploitation of children.

The Lufafa Mountain is situated in Hhelehhele under the Ntfonjeni Inkhundla. In a shocking revelation by concerned residents, children as young as 12 years, are being exploited as illegal miners in the mountain. It was gathered that older teenagers are also being used in the illegal mining, as it is easier for them to get into the small tunnels where the gold is extracted. However, it was also gathered that most of the children assist in transporting the soil that is dug out and contains the unextracted gold.

Child labour remains a pressing global issue, and Africa is no exception. In the context of illegal mining activities, the exploitation of children in hazardous conditions, is a grave concern. Many children are drawn into the web of illegal mining, due to poverty and limited opportunities.Due to its rich gold deposits, the gold mountain has attracted illegal miners, informally known as zama zamas.

Risking

The zama zamas are said to have dug makeshift tunnels inside the mountain, risking their lives including those of children. Unlike a normal mining conditions which ensures safety of the miners, illegal miners lack the means and the expertise to ensure safety. It was also gathered that sometimes, the illegal mining takes place during night time and this compromises their safety even further.

This publication spoke to some residents and also traditional authorities to shed light on the distressing plight of these young souls and the alarming state of lawlessness that persists, despite the presence of armed forces. It was gathered that some of the children participate in the illegal mining activities in the presence of their parents. The children are also used in carrying the soil mixture that contains the gold for extraction of the mineral at a different site, usually a homestead.

In the past, this publication has written about children being used in illegal cultivation of dagga. However, some children are now being used in the illegal mining of the gold. Some parents are divided about the use of children in the illegal mining. One of the parents who spoke on condition of anonymity, said  she would never allow her child but *Maluti said poverty was the main reason she had no problem with her child getting involved.

“We are living a better life than before because we are able to buy some food and clothes,” said Maluti. She also said she was aware of the dangers of the makeshift mines collapsing, but they were advised that during the wet season, they should avoid it. She insisted that poverty was a driving factor and that if this was not the case, she would not take the risk. A recent report by our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini, uncovered the illicit mining operations taking place at the now treacherous mountain. Also, some of the illegal mining is said to be operated at an old abandoned mine near Pigg’s Peak, over 20 kilometres from Lufafa Mountain, where more illegal mining takes place.

Abandoned

The abandoned mine, known as old Pigg’s Peak Mine is also guarded by members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) just like the Lufafa Mountain. However, despite the security measures in place, the illegal miners are allegedly brazenly pilfering gold right under the noses of the very soldiers assigned to prevent such activities.
Security guards are placed at the Lomati Mine which is licensed to mine the gold at the mountain.

This flagrant disregard for the law, by the zama zamas, is said to have created an atmosphere of audacity and lawlessness, leaving the authorities grappling for effective solutions, such that others have suggested that the soldiers should operate under a rotating roaster.“If the same soldiers keep guarding the mines for a long time, they may end up being influenced by the criminals,” said a senior resident.

Just two weeks ago, an operation involving soldiers and police officers resulted in the apprehension of seven individuals, who included Zimbabwean nationals and a liSwati. The arrests were made amidst allegations of engaging in illegal mining activities. The arrest of the six was also confirmed by the Chief Police Information and Communications Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati. In an endeavour to understand the extent of this rampant illegal mining, this publication conducted an in-depth investigation, unearthing harrowing revelations about the situation.

Mbholofidi Sibandze, the indvuna (traditional authority) of Hhelehhele, expressed his concerns about the alarming rise in illegal trading within the area. Sibandze revealed that illegal mining had escalated, with the zama zamas exhibiting fearlessness in the face of nearby military presence. It is also believed that the zama zamas are also armed with firearms and other dangerous weapons. Sibandze further disclosed that numerous residents had raised concerns, as in most homes there were at least two ore more individuals involved in illegal mining.

He said some of the residents work as the illegal miners who collect the soil mixture that contains the gold, while the others were involved, in the extraction process. He said the reason many people were involved, was because the financial returns from selling the gold were very lucrative. Sibandze said for this reason, even women were tempted to engage in the activities and that some took their children with them.

Illustrate

To illustrate how lucrative gold was, Sibandze held up a piece of gold slightly smaller than a plum and revealed that its sale on the black market could yield enough funds to purchase a reasonably good car, with surplus cash remaining. When he was asked if such a small piece could generate so much money, he responded: “Uyadlala wena”, before bursting into laughter. Sibandze also shed light on the motivations behind some of the zama zamas’ actions.

He noted that some former employees of Lomati Mine, the mining company licensed to operate at Lufafa, had turned to illegal mining, as they claimed that they made more money working illegally. Sibandze said the feeling by some of the residents was that something should be done to protect the children. He said the children were very young and that it was not safe to involve them in the illegal mining act.
*Not real name.

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