– RUSTENBURG, South Africa
A collapse at a disused mine in Nkaneng, near Rustenburg (in South Africa's North West province), resulted in the deaths of 14 illegal miners late on Monday, August 10, 2026. Police confirmed the fatalities on Tuesday, noting that the incident occurred at the Nkaneng dump site on land linked to Sibanye mine operations approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg in an area known for platinum mining. The collapse took place while the miners commonly known as ‘zama zamas’were working illegally underground.
North West province police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh reported that 14 illegal miners, the majority of whom were citizens of Lesotho (Basotho), died in the collapse. Eight other people were injured and taken to the hospital. Police indicated that an undetermined number of additional miners might still be trapped underground. Authorities responded quickly to the scene after receiving notification of the incident around 9:00 PM on Monday; search and recovery operations continued throughout Tuesday.
National and provincial police officials including Brigadier Athlenda Mathe and North West Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams confirmed that the walls of the disused mine collapsed while the group was inside. Specialized teams and tracking dogs were deployed to help locate potential additional victims. Three of the injured miners, who were subsequently discharged from the hospital, were arrested on suspicion of illegal mining, while the remaining injured individuals stayed in police custody at the hospital. The deaths are being investigated through an official inquest procedure.
Illegal mining in abandoned and disused shafts remains a persistent challenge in South Africa, where thousands of unregistered miners operate in dangerous conditions, often without safety infrastructure. Many come from neighboring countries, driven by economic necessity. The Rustenburg incident follows other high-profile tragedies involving illegal miners, including deaths at the Stilfontein mine between 2024 and 2025. Authorities highlighted the inherent dangers of working at unregulated, dilapidated sites that lack adequate safety measures or structural support systems.
Rescue and recovery operations were ongoing on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, with police and specialized teams present at the scene. Further updates are expected as efforts to locate all individuals continue and formal investigations progress.