'They called them troublemakers, but they were our survival': Stilfontein struggles after illegal mining crackdown

By Christopher Buda | Published Jan 28, 2025

In Stilfontein, the government’s crackdown on illegal mining was meant to restore order. But for residents like Rita de Sonsa, the absence of the miners has brought economic despair and uncertainty. As businesses crumble and hunger rises, the community is left questioning whether the crackdown did more harm than good.