# Sinkholes, scarred land and scapegoats: the scourge of illegal gold mining in Johannesburg

- Source: Guardian World
- Published: 2026-10-30T05:00:45+00:00
- Category: World
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/30/sinkholes-scarred-land-scapegoats-illegal-gold-mining-johannesburg
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/sinkholes-scarred-land-and-scapegoats-the-scourge-of-illegal-gold-mini-d5399b/

There is no end in sight for the drivers of illegal mining, while police action appears ineffective Cora Bailey has been encountering illegal miners ever since she first started treating injured animals in the townships around Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, in 1991. But as the price of gold has soared, so too has activity in the abandoned mine shafts that mark the area. In late September, dozen

_Ground Level News shows a short summary only; the full article and all rights belong to Guardian World._