Soaring gold prices fuel rising illegal mining in Johannesburg as elections approach
An animal charity closed its gate for the first time, police reported 71 suspected zama zamas arrested in a week, and experts say politicians are scapegoating zama zamas for sinkholes
Rising illegal gold mining in the abandoned shafts around Johannesburg, alongside soaring gold prices, has led an animal charity to close its gate at midday for the first time and made illegal mining a campaign issue ahead of local elections on 4 November.