Marikana illegal chrome operations leave 14 dead
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Fourteen illegal chrome miners were killed and others remain trapped following a rock fall near the Nkaneng informal settlement in South Africa. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers of unregulated mining operations in the Rustenburg and Marikana regions.
Why it matters
The tragedy underscores the human cost of illicit mining activities and the failure of safety regulations in the region's informal sector.
Illegal chrome mining and illicit chrome washing plants are rife in the region and hiding in plain sight, though the police have had some recent successes on this front. Last week the Hawks swooped on one operation and seized four excavators and one dump truck.
11 Aug 2026 Illegal chrome diggings near Marikana as seen from the air on 31 July 2026. Illegal chrome mining and illicit chrome washing plants are rife in the region and hiding in plain sight. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla) Dive Deeper Speed Read Summary Listen Dive Deeper Fourteen illegal chrome miners were killed and several are believed to be trapped under the rubble after a rock fall near the Nkaneng informal settlement in North West, police said on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
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