Zama zama business: R200 for loaf of bread!

BUSINESS was booming in Stilfontein, North West, thanks to zama zamas.

However, residents said they now struggle following closure of the abandoned mine.

Community member Mahadio Mohapi said Operation Vala Umgodi has left businesspeople and vendors hungry.

She said they used to make big money through zama zamas, but it’s all gone.

Mahadio, who spoke to Daily Sun on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, said one loaf of bread cost between R200 and R250, while a plate of porridge went for R100.

She said people are now struggling to make ends meet and wishes for things to go back to normal.

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Mahadio said: “We were left struggling, and poverty is getting worse. We used to make big money which we used to take care of our families, but now we’re struggling since police came to camp in our area,” she said.

“People don’t have jobs and selling to zama zamas was their only hope. There are no other jobs around here.”

She said government’s effort to tackle zama zama issue has had a negative effect on abahlali.

“The solution is to legalise zama zama operations. Government must allow them to mine legally,” she said.

Another activist Petrus Moshe said it was heartbreaking to see people die during Operation Vala Umgodi.

“They should have arrested them. These are human beings, regardless of where they come from. What government did was an injustice,” said Moshe.