Bench-marks Foundation Calls For Formalisation Of Artisanal Mining

Non-governmental organisation, Bench-Marks Foundation, has attributed the escalation of illegal mining in the country to what it terms governments failure to formalise artisanal mining .

This follows the deaths of 78 illegal miners at a disused mine in Stilfontein in the North West.

More than 1 500 other illegal miners have been coming to the surface from a shaft at the mine since November last year.

A government-led retrieval operation has since been concluded .

Lead Researcher at the foundation, David van Wyk, says high unemployment levels are central to the problem.