Rebooting world’s deepest mines sparks massive labour migration

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s gold and platinum miners are racing to bring back thousands of skilled migrant workers who are crucial to ramping up output following the easing of the nation’s coronavirus lockdown.

For almost 150 years, South Africa’s deep-level mines relied on cheap labour from neighbouring Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Botswana. They still account for about 10% of the industry’s 450,000-strong workforce, and their skills are key to rebooting the nation’s mines.