Illegals miners, who until recently were thought to exploit only abandoned workings, are now increasingly targeting operating mines. According to the SA Chamber of Mines, illegal miners are compromising mining operations by interrupting the electricity supply, and by stealing materials and equipment.Nikisi Lesufi, senior executive for health and the environment at the chamber, said security officers at Sibanye gold mine were attacked last week by illegal miners trying to gain access to an Eskom substation that supplies power to the mine.Lesufi could not quantify the losses to the industry caused by the activities of illegal miners but said companies had been forced to spend more on security to protect themselves from the depredations of the illegal diggers, known as "zama-zamas".Lesufi was speaking at the launch of an SA Human Rights Commission report on illegal mining.It is estimated that R5-billion worth of precious metals is illegally traded every year.The Human Rights Commission warned that the state had to do more than arrest illegal miners to stop the activity."Our view is that it will grow unless the solution looks beyond arrests," rights commissioner Janet Love said.The government would have to look at what could be done to provide an alternative livelihood in communities in which illegal mining was a significant source of income, she said.The commission said mines in liquidation, or temporarily closed, were the preferred targets of illegal miners, such as Aurora, in Ekurhuleni, and Blyvooruitzicht, on the West Rand.Koos Pretorius, director of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, said: "Blyvoor went into liquidation two years ago. There is still no closure that has been implemented or even applied for in our knowledge."The people that worked on the mine were laid off. They are now sitting in the village."What should they do?"The mine shaft is open and the property is accessible and the people do not have any other activity they can fall back on."It is obvious they are going to go underground and use their skills to provide for their families."..