In South Africa's coal heartland, gray smog hangs over parts of the Mpumalanga province like a thick blanket, while miners descend underground to chip away at the black rock.
One of them is Mooi Masuku, an artisanal coal miner of 17 years, who says a new bill to legalize informal mining is key to protecting and creating jobs, particularly as critical minerals are eyed for green technologies.
"In South Africa, I think the government will begin to see why it should legalize (artisanal mining) to protect these jobs," said Masuku, sitting on a concrete slab outside his home in the Nomzamo informal settlement in the town of Ermelo.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.