In a recent BBC research, shocking details of child exploitation in South Africa’s illegal mining industry are revealed. Minors trafficked from neighboring countries are subjected to forced labor and sexual abuse by legal organizations operating in abandoned gold mine. Following a police operation at an illegitimate mine close to Stilfontein in December 2023, the revelations just surfaced. Officials surrounded the site, which led to the rescuing of dozens of underwater workers, including 31 kids. According to reports, all of the workers from Mozambique were undocumented. 27 of the kids were repatriated in November, according to the South Africa Department of Social Development. Individuals, aid workers, and experts describe a pattern of abuse, with kids frequently being abused, detained, and left vulnerable to extortion by gangs. One of the survivors, named Jonathan ( name changed for safety ), described a six-month period in a closed mine where he observed children being abused. He said,” I used to see these children in the mine, 15 or 17 years old,” and he was quoted by BBC. They were taken advantage of, and it wasn’t secure for them, they claimed. He claimed that some underage children accepted difficult conditions in exchange for basic necessities because they were eager for survival. Another witnesses, including a worker who was interviewed under the pseudonym Tshepo, confirmed related experiences, claiming that younger workers were especially vulnerable due to their lack of energy and safety. Miners ‘ scientist Makhotla Sefuli claims that criminal organizations purposefully target kids because they believe they are compliant and less expensive. When they’re inside the plant, it’s nearly impossible to leave, he said,” Their documents are taken away, and it’s almost impossible to leave.” Reports of severe trauma to the aid organizations working with the freed children. According to Gugu Xaba, CEO of Save the Children South Africa, several juveniles were manipulated and exposed to harm over long periods of time. They were given tasks, but instead they were subjected to abuse, she said. Some “experienced or witnessed events that affected them greatly” The release of these abuses comes after the government launched Operation Vala Umgodi ( “seal the hole” ) in December 2023, which is supposed to stop illegal mining operations that are estimated to cost South Africa over$ 3.2 billion in lost revenue annually. Officers attempted to force the underground miners out during the Stilfontein activity by restricting supplies to them. Following the humanitarian crisis that followed, according to BBC, images of emaciated people pleading for assistance led to court-ordered treatment. No official claims have yet been filed in connection with abuse allegations despite the size of the issue.
