Illegal mining is by no means a victimless crime, as it costs South Africa an estimated R20-billion a year in lost mineral sales, taxes and royalties, Sibanye protection services senior VP Nash Lutchman said on Wednesday. In a presentation on the negative impact of illegal mining on the South African mining sector, he noted that the theft of copper, electricity cables, dragline cables, diesel and other materials prejudiced the economic viability of mining companies and posed a serious risk to mining infrastructure.
