We need to talk about the merits of legalising illegal mining

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Thu 03 Aug   [Ron Derby] Whenever people talk about the historical strength of the South African economy, there’s a certain romanticism about Johannesburg and the gold mines that surround the city. For small town fellows like myself , it’s a history that fascinates. But its a very old history, gold mining peaked in this country more than 50 years ago. It’s peak, the 1973 oil crisis and the 1976 Soweto uprisings marked the turning point in the apartheid state. There’s still lots of gold, but because of the depths of the mines and the danger, it’s become too expensive to justify some of our large miners to continue foraging. In their stead, what we’ve witnessed over the past few decades is this uncontrollable growth of illegal gold mining. Men from all over southern Africa have quite literally taken their lives into their own hands and sort the golden promise. Who’s to blame them if you consider our neighbourhood and our own economic conditions. But their labours are feeding our growest risk amongst many followers of the South African story, organised crime. So what are we to do about these men, who operate on the margins of society? Is legalisation an option, as we know we can’t police them. It is a conversation we should be having including our politicians as we head to polls next year, but they certainly aren’t. In a special newsletter this morning, I’ve dug up reports and a podcast by the excellent Eunice Masson on illegal mining, which was done last year. It’s excellent, and readers and listeners should expect more in weeks to come. Good morning. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( [war of diamonds]( [PODCAST | War for diamonds – An unequal battle]( These are the illegal miners who are in constant battles with the government to obtain legal mining permits [// Read more]( [Nuttaboy Diamond Mine DH 9755]( [War for diamonds: Toil and triumph on the rich barren plains]( “I’m willing to take a bullet” says Northern Cape natives who claim the land, and its diamonds, belong to them. [// Read more]( [Nuttaboy Diamond Mine DH 9834]( Premium [War for diamonds: How stones found at abandoned mines enter the illegal economy]( But the new artisanal and small-scale mining policy may be a turning point for informal prospectors who want to mine legally [// Read more]( [Port Nolloth Krieks Backyard Diamond Classification DH 6413]( [War for diamonds: Child diggers part of illicit diamond economy]( Children in the Northern Cape leave school to dig for the gemstones, which, for many households, is a way of survival [// Read more]( [Nuttaboy Diamond Mine DH 6902]( Premium [War for diamonds: An unequal battle]( Illegal miners, who have been fighting to get mining permits, risk arrest and even death in confrontations between the police and security firms [// Read more]( Pic of the day [Port nolloth harbour] Port Nolloth harbour. Illegal mining is huge in this small town where opportunities are scarce. [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa