How illegal gold mining is thriving in South Africa’s abandoned shafts
Anywhere between 5% and 30% of gold in South Africa – once the world’s top producer – is mined illegally, laundered, and shipped as legitimately mined precious metal.
However, it’s impossible to really quantify the extent of the damage to the economy caused because of these illegal shipments, according to a new report from SWISSAID, an NGO based in Switzerland. Although gold output is declining, it still contributes billions to South Africa’s economy.
