Anticipation fills the air as two young miners, accompanied by their sorting supervisor, enter a modest tin-roofed structure perched atop a mound at the Baken mine. Marked by a sign declaring it the “Communal Artisanal Miners Diamond Jig Sorting House,” this space signifies the culmination of their day’s toil, where they eagerly await the fruits of their labor. Despite its unpretentious exterior, supervisor David Venter assures that security measures are in place, with discreet surveillance cameras monitoring the room. Inside, a fellow worker empties a sieve onto a table, unveiling gravel washed clean for the miners to meticulously sift through, in the hope of uncovering a precious diamond. However, luck doesn’t always smile upon them, as Venter elucidates the unpredictable nature of their discoveries, ranging from substantial finds to dry spells.
In a bid to ensure transparency and equity, Marius Coetzee, general manager at Lower Orange River Diamonds (LOR), underscores the importance of involving miners throughout the entire process, from excavation to sorting. Each miner is promptly remunerated for any valuable stones they unearth, receiving an estimated sum on the spot with adjustments made if the stone fetches a higher price at auction. Operating in teams within designated areas of the mine, known as communal artisanal miners (CAMs), these individuals employ traditional methods and basic tools to extract diamonds from gravel. Through reinvestment of their earnings, many CAMs have upgraded their equipment, augmenting their productivity and livelihoods. Katleen, a CAM team leader, underscores the significance of their work in providing for their families, recalling past triumphs and remaining optimistic for future discoveries.
LOR envisions its CAM project as a paradigm for fostering collaboration between mine owners and local communities, offering employment and skill enhancement opportunities in regions where such prospects are scarce. Situated along South Africa’s west coast, near the border with Namibia, Baken boasts a landscape of rugged beauty, renowned for its diamond-rich terrain and stark coastal vistas. Operating within a region steeped in diamond mining history, Baken represents a continuation of this legacy, with LOR streamlining administrative processes to support both junior miners and CAMs alike.
As the Baken mine stands as a testament to the enduring allure of diamond mining in South Africa, it serves as a reminder of the untapped potential that lies within the earth’s depths, waiting to be unearthed by those willing to confront its challenges.
