Fourteen illegal chrome miners died after a mine caved in near Marikana in South Africa's North West province, with authorities warning that others may still remain trapped, The Daily Maverick reported.

Police estimate the collapse occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday near the Nkaneng informal settlement, located roughly 130 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg. The bodies were discovered Tuesday morning near an abandoned mine shaft, according to the publication.

Eight miners were injured in the incident, the Associated Press reported. Three of those treated were released from hospital and subsequently arrested on suspicion of illegal mining.

Marikana is situated in South Africa's Bushveld Complex, a region globally recognized for its vast platinum group metals and chromite deposits. The area gained international attention in August 2012, when police shot and killed 34 striking platinum miners at Lonmin's Marikana operation.

Illegal chrome mining and illicit washing plants are common across the region. Unlike deep-level gold mining, chrome deposits in the Bushveld are relatively accessible through open-pit and shallow workings, lowering the technical barrier for informal extraction. Processed chrome is typically sold through intermediaries to illicit washing plants before entering formal and informal supply chains. South Africa supplies roughly 40% of global chrome ore, a critical raw material for stainless steel production predominantly consumed by manufacturers in China and India.

Police Crackdown on Illegal Mining Networks

Law enforcement has intensified efforts to dismantle illegal mining networks across the North West province. Police have seized 20 trucks and 15 excavators over the past two years, North West Police Commissioner Arthur Adams told local broadcaster SABC News.

Authorities are targeting the gangs and organized crime syndicates that finance these operations, rather than focusing solely on the individual miners, Adams said.

Broader Context of Illegal Mining in South Africa

Illegal mining is widespread in South Africa, a country with an estimated unemployment rate of approximately 40% and home to some of the world's oldest modern-era gold mines. Elevated commodity prices—particularly gold and chrome near all-time highs—have attracted new entrants into a hazardous livelihood centered around the deep historical shafts surrounding Johannesburg. South Africa has thousands of derelict and ownerless mines that were never properly sealed, creating ongoing safety and environmental hazards. Government programs to rehabilitate these sites have advanced slowly amid limited funding and the sheer scale of abandoned workings.

South Africa is the world's largest producer of chrome ore, a key input in stainless steel manufacturing, and holds the largest known chromium reserves globally.

Informal miners in South Africa are commonly referred to as zamazamas, a Zulu term meaning "those who try." Last year, scores of illegal miners died at another local mine operation, underscoring the persistent dangers associated with unregulated mining in abandoned shafts.