By Doreen Mokgolo
Blessing and Appreciate Moyo, two sisters from Zimbabwe, moved to South Africa illegally seven years ago, hoping for a better life.
They couldn’t get legal jobs in South Africa without proper documents from Home Affairs.
So, to survive, they turned to illegal mining.
The sisters work with other zama zamas at a mine dump in Daggafontein, Ekurhuleni.
The miners break and grind rocks to extract gold dust, which they sell to informal traders.
Blessing works with her husband and knows the dangers of illegal mining, including the risk of being arrested and deported, or injured.
But she says these risks are worth it to support her family.
“Most of us here don’t have passports or work permits, so we can’t get regular jobs,” Blessing told Scrolla.Africa.
“We are forced to do jobs that South Africans don’t want to touch, like working at landfills or becoming zama zamas.
“It is either that or we prostitute ourselves to make money to support our families back at home, pay rent and survive. We can’t depend on government social grants.”
Appreciate added that the sisters watch out for each other in the male-dominated illegal mining scene to avoid being taken advantage of.
“Every morning we pray for safety and a safe return. We never work alone. If my sister or her husband can’t go to work, I stay home too for safety,” Appreciate said.
Pictured above: Sisters Blessing and Appreciate Moyo.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
