Ten days ago, a cattle herder in the remote South African village of KwaHlathi found what appeared to be a large diamond in a field. By Sunday, thousands of people from all over had rushed to dig in the spot hoping to find a fortune.
"This means our lives will change because no one had a proper job, I do odd jobs," one hopeful digger, 27-year-old Mendo Sabelo, told CNN. "When I returned home with them, (the family was) really overjoyed."
Unfortunately, lab tests have just come back determining that the stones are just quartz. From The Guardian:
The event had highlighted the challenges faced by local people, he continued. Like many areas in South Africa, high levels of unemployment and poverty have left communities living hand to mouth.
People in the area also raised concerns about roads and water during the visit, which officials said they would address[…]
[Provincial executive council member Ravi Pillay] said those who continued to mine – a situation that also risks the spread of Covid – would be encouraged to leave, and law enforcement could be drawn upon if necessary.
image: Reuters video screengrab, full video above
