A spontaneous gold rush has erupted in the informal settlement of Gugulethu, east of Johannesburg, transforming a former cattle pen into a scene of frenzied excavation. The discovery of gold particles by a local resident several days ago triggered an influx of fortune seekers armed with pickaxes and shovels, all hoping to uncover valuable nuggets in the soil of this economically depressed region.
Springs, once a prosperous mining town, faced economic collapse when formal mining operations ceased years ago due to the prohibitive depth and cost of extraction. Now, the area surrounding this ghost of South Africa’s golden era has become home to informal settlements populated largely by migrants from neighboring countries.
Despite government warnings declaring the activities illegal and environmentally destructive, dozens of residents continue to sift through soil using dangerous chemicals like mercury and sodium cyanide to separate gold from ore. Several participants confirmed to BBC reporters that they had successfully sold findings on the black market, where a single gram of gold fetches approximately $100 – a substantial sum compared to South Africa’s monthly minimum wage of $368.
The mining ministry has expressed grave concerns about ground instability caused by unregulated excavation, warning that nearby communities face “significant risk of injury or loss of life.” This development occurs against the backdrop of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement to deploy military forces to combat illegal mining operations and criminal gangs nationwide.
Many miners acknowledge the illegality of their actions but plead for official mining permits that would allow them to work legally and pay taxes. As one anonymous father of two explained, the desperate economic circumstances leave few alternatives for providing education and sustenance for his family.