Mozambican citizens are among the top three nationalities practicing illegal mining in the Republic of South Africa (RSA).

The information was given yesterday (19) by the South African Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Matsanshe, who also pointed to citizens of Lesotho and Zimbabwe as the ones who supply the most illegal labor in the mining sector.

Quoted by NewsMatsanshe gave this information at a meeting he held with members of parliament from the Police and Mineral Resources committees to update them on the "umugodi ditch" operation, launched as part of the fight against illegal mining in this neighboring country.

Since the end of last year, more than 1,500 illegals, mostly Mozambicans, have been removed from the Stilfontein gold mine after the South African military blocked all food resupply routes.

More than 90 other illegal miners have died, and the North West health authorities are appealing to relatives to have their bodies recognized through DNA tests.

The South African Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, who was also present at the hearing with the parliamentarians, assured that investigations are continuing with a view to identifying those who profit from illegal mining.

It should be noted that the South African government is going to demand a refund of the three and a half million rands it spent on the mission to rescue illegal miners in Stilfontein, in the North West province. Last year alone, illegal mining cost South Africa's economy the equivalent of 60 billion rand.

(Photo DR)