South Africa is divided about the illegal miners underground in Stilfontein. Some see the miners as criminals engaged in illicit activity that must be stopped; others see them as desperate men undertaking dangerous work to feed themselves and their families.

MISTRA’s paper on artisanal and small-scale mining gives some context for what is happening in Stilfontein, outlining the problems, contradiction and possibilities within these sectors.

The paper is drawn from MISTRA’s book The Future of Mining in South Africa. The volume explores the industry more broadly, addressing the hard questions of how things could be different in the sector, and how mining-affected communities and the nation at large can benefit equitably from the country’s mineral endowments.