When examining artisanal mining, it is essential to acknowledge that the issue is complex. In the South African context, the situation is no different. Zama Zamas differ in terms of their profile, the locations where they operate and the minerals they mine, to mention a few distinguishing factors. A challenge in the artisanal mining sector is the scarcity of comprehensive data. This chapter unpacks the data gap surrounding artisanal mining. Furthermore, the chapter explores the question of whether artisanal mining helps people escape poverty or traps them in it. Is it a desperate last resort for the marginalized, or does it offer a means of economic empowerment? Zama Zama mining is often associated with several social ills, for example, issues related to the miners’ health and safety, environmental deprivation, child labor, and the occurrence of violence and conflict within the sector. South African mining companies and law enforcement officials frequently view policing as a solution to these problems, but this approach has yielded little success. An investigation into the drivers of the sector is needed. The concluding part of this chapter argues that alternative, more proactive approaches may become available by exploring the drivers of artisanal gold mining in South Africa, alongside ascertaining the responsibilities of mining companies in mitigating the drivers.