Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines

Ndumiso, an illegal gold miner or "zama zama," operates in abandoned South African mines controlled by gangs.

Once a legal miner earning little, he now risks his life underground for higher pay, allowing him to support his family and educate his children.

Spending months underground, miners like Ndumiso face collapsing tunnels, gang violence, and harsh conditions.

These abandoned mines, about 6,000 nationwide, have become hubs for black-market gold trading and underground communities.

The government is cracking down on illegal mining, which costs billions in lost revenue, but experts urge regulation instead of punishment.

For miners like Ndumiso, the work is a dangerous alternative to poverty in a country with over 30% unemployment.