Children trafficked and abused in South African illegal mines

A child trafficking and sexual abuse crisis is unfolding in South Africa’s illegal mines as children are systematically exploited by criminal gangs.

According to the BBC, many children are abducted from nearby countries or trafficked as promises of money and prosperity lure the young men into the mines where there have been accounts of rape and sexual assault.

These victims are particularly vulnerable, with children who are being trafficked as young as 15, with the young children being recruited specifically for their cheap labour.

Rape is being used in two instances: either for punishment by the older workers or in direct sex trafficking situations.

This exploitation thrives within the abandoned mine industry, which the government is trying to crack down on.

The illegal mining industry costs the South African economy £2.6 billion annually, with an estimated 6,000 vacant mines available to be exploited.

The use of children in these mines became particularly valuable for the miners as they are paid as little as 20 rands, which is the equivalent of 80p per day.

To top this, the conditions are terrible with miners spending months at a time underground without resurfacing.

In response to the growing crisis, the government has tried to combat mining with Operation Vala Umgodi, launched in 2023.

There have been high-profile cases within the mining industry, with a serious situation in late 2024, when miners were trapped in a gold mine near Stilfontein. The incident saw dozens of men die of starvation and dehydration.

Such high-profile incidents have highlighted how illegal mining is a serious issue that the government is looking to target.

However, with these atrocious sex scandals now coming to light, it would seem that the government will need to intervene more than it already has.

It’s reported that no charges or arrests have been made concerning the sex scandal.

BBC, Maghrebi.org