Sinkholes are generally created due to ground water eroding the soil and rock below the ground surface. Usually the rock is soluble like limestone so this is a natural occurrence that happens over time. What happens if this is not a natural occurrence and there is something more sinister happening underground?
Johannesburg is being hollowed out from underneath the earth surface by an estimated 50 000 illegal miners. Below Johannesburg lies more than 16 000 km of abandoned gold mining tunnels linked to over 6000 mine shafts and these tunnels are actively being worked by the illegal undocumented miners. The miners have been nicknamed Zama Zama's which translated directly means "take a chance" or "keep on trying".
Mine shafts still being worked date back to the 1880's so there is still gold that has been left behind or they would not be mining. Having 50K illegal miners below ground tells you they are making money or they would not be doing this. How much money are these mining syndicates making is anyone's guess with an estimated guess of R60 billion worth of gold, chrome and platinum being mined.
Gold, platinum and chrome increasing in price will make these illegal mining operations more profitable and this is like a second gold rush for those unemployed. An estimated 75% of the Zama Zama's are foreigners arriving from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The mining syndicates have been known to keep the miners underground between 3 and 6 months at a time. This is what makes this situation dangerous as no police are going underground to get them out because they are outnumbered and will be out armed.
What is worrying the longer this continues is the infrastructure around Johannesburg is unstable. Roads are disappearing with neighborhoods and businesses being affected. The above photo was a school building that occurred overnight and no one was injured or killed.
The problem is when mining they are removing support shafts and damaging water pipes/sewerage pipes, storm water drainage systems which then flows freely eroding the ground underneath the surface. No one can predict where or when the next sink hole will strike.
Businesses in some areas have been robbed from miners entering through the floor and they either move or concrete the floor. Another business had to close down as trucks can no longer use the nearby road as it is too dangerous. A residential area called Witpooitjie estate which is an upmarket gated complex has had sinkholes appearing which has also endangered the nursery school. Those properties are virtually worthless these days as no one wants to live in an area that has sink holes.
The Zama Zama's are dangerous and will stop at nothing to protect their illegal operations. The Johannesburg Road Agency is too scared to go and repair any damaged roads due to fear of being killed. The illegal miners are known to be well armed and why police tend to avoid any confrontation. There is no law and order and this will continue until some major highway collapses or there is an incident that kills or injures many people.
