South Africa Probes Illegal Miners Blast Risk Under City of Gold
- Catastrophe lurks beneath South African city of Johannesburg
- Miners operated within 30 centimeters of gas pipes underground
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South Africa is probing a potential catastrophe lurking beneath its richest city -- illegal gold miners are digging and blasting 30 centimeters (12 inches) from gas pipelines beneath some of Johannesburg’s most vital infrastructure, raising the risk of explosions.
The government has been jolted into action after the Sunday Times newspaper reported on the activity that could create an inferno. Some of the illegal miners are digging right below the 94,000-person capacity FNB Stadium, while others are active beneath major motorways such as the M1 and M2, the newspaper reported, citing Conel Mackay, the head of Johannesburg’s infrastructure-protection unit.