Life of a former zama zama: ‘When I saw the conditions I thought, ‘What have I done?’’
A former illegal miner joins Bongani Bingwa in the studio to share his experience of being a zama zama.
Mining, miner / Pixabay: Aristal 8595022 1280
Bongani Bingwa speaks with Walter Jerald (pseudonym), a former zama zama.
Listen below.
In the abandoned mine shafts, desperate people risk their lives in hopes of striking gold.
The term 'zama zama' is often associated with violence and criminality, but many of these people are former miners trying to put food on the table for their families.
ALSO READ:
UPDATE: Teen among 14 Stilfontein zama zamas who resurfaced overnight
Digging deep into the underground world of zama zamas
They brave 13-hour walks underground in the darkness and face constant threats from criminal syndicates who have taken over the mine shafts.
This was the life of Walter Jerald who started illegal mining to get enough money to return home.
He says you can only enter this world if you have a connection to introduce you to the 'bosses'.
To enter the mine the bosses must pay R20 000, and the zama zamas must hand them half their earnings.
To get out, you must pay R7000, regardless of the situation.
According to Jerald, you will always enter the mine at night and the journey to get from the entrance to the last floor can take seven days.
“When you arrive at the fourth floor you are already exhausted. The journey is too long.”
- Walter Jerald, former zama zama
When he saw the conditions the people in the mines were in, and how it affected them, he was terrified but knew he could be killed if he tried to back out.
“I had made up my mind. I was confident. But when I saw my friends coming from underground, it started scaring me. I started to think, 'What have I done to myself?'"
- Walter Jerald, former zama zama
Once he reached the bottom level, he realised it was a life-and-death situation.
He says the temperature was extreme, and he spent almost seven months underground without coming to the surface once.
“Sometimes when I went to the bathroom, I would see blood coming out.”
- Walter Jerald, former zama zama
“It is not worth it, even with the money… you suffer a lot.”
- Walter Jerald, former zama zama
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.