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Stilfontein’s Silent Streets: The Struggles of a Community After the Zama Zamas Were Gone

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Picture: IOL/Christopher Buda

Rita de Sonsa, owner of a liquor store in Stilfontein, wipes the sweat from her forehead as she surveys the once-bustling interior of her business. The lively hum of customers, once a constant, has vanished, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the occasional creak of the door.

Business has sharply declined, leaving Rita in a state of uncertainty.

“I take it one day at a time,” she says quietly, her gaze drifting over the now-empty shelves that once saw steady traffic from local miners. “But without the Zama Zamas, the situation is tough.”

For years, the illegal miners—known as Zama Zamas—served as both the heart and the engine of Stilfontein and the nearby Khuma township. Their hard-earned cash flowed into businesses, provided for families, and even helped fund local sports teams.

That was before Operation Valumgodi, the government’s massive crackdown on illegal mining, began in August 2024 and lasted until January 2025.

The operation led to over 15 raids, the rescue of 246 miners, and the loss of 78 lives. More than 120 individuals were arrested, and a cache of weapons and mining equipment was seized. Authorities now monitor the mining site 24/7, and the once-bustling shafts are eerily silent.

While police claim success, for Rita and many others in Khuma, the aftermath feels far from victorious.

“The government thinks they’ve solved the problem, but all they’ve done is cut off our community’s lifeline,” Rita says, her voice filled with frustration. “Without the mining, businesses are struggling, people are hungrier, and our children are suffering.”

IOL spoke to multiple residents and business owners, many of whom wished to remain anonymous. Their stories all share a common theme: despair. With the illegal mining shut down, taxis that once ferried workers now sit idle, and fast-food businesses that catered to miners are closed. Shops are seeing fewer customers, and profits are dwindling.

One anonymous meat shop owner said his sales have dropped drastically. “Before, I couldn’t keep up with demand; now I’m lucky if I sell half of what I used to,” he admits.

Rita, who has run her store for 33 years, is witnessing a dramatic shift in the community she’s called home. “Many families can’t afford to send their children to school. People come to me for food, but I can’t feed everyone.”

She notes the irony in the situation: while the miners were branded as criminals, they were also the backbone of the local economy. “About 75% of my customers came from the miners’ income. They were hardworking, respectful, and supported local businesses, service providers, and even schools.”

Thanks to their support, Rita was able to sponsor local soccer and pool teams, while the miners funded school projects and other community initiatives.

Also read: Tragedy Strikes South Africa: Over 100 Illegal Miners Perish in Abandoned Gold Mine

“They weren’t just faceless diggers; they were part of our town,” Rita says with a wistful smile.

Now that the Zama Zamas are gone, Rita is left with a deep fear for the future. She believes that legalizing and reopening the mines—on a smaller, regulated scale—could be the key to reviving Stilfontein’s economy.

“The government promised change, but we’re still waiting. If they reopened the mines, it could bring jobs and hope back to this area,” she explains.

For now, Rita continues to hold on, scraping by with the limited trade that remains. But her voice, filled with desperation, underscores the dire need for action.

“We need real solutions before it’s too late. The government needs to understand that without the mines, we are lost.”

As the day draws to a close, Rita locks up her shop and reflects on the miners who once gave life to the streets of Stilfontein.

“They called them troublemakers,” she says quietly, “but to us, they were our survival.”

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