South African chrome · cases 2005–2026
Each row is a case or scheme on public record. Bars show schemes that ran over years, markers show single events, and arrows show where the money or ore ended up. Select a row for the people, amounts and current status.
Why so much ends up in China
China makes most of the world's stainless steel but has almost no chrome of its own. South Africa holds about 70% of known reserves.
High electricity prices hollowed out South African ferrochrome smelters, so raw ore is shipped and processed in China.
South Africa has moved to put chrome ore under export control, and Zimbabwe banned raw exports. Buyers stock up before supply tightens.
Chrome is bought on grade, not origin. Illegal and underpriced ore mixes into legal cargoes with little to trace it.
Allegations in the Samancor, Sylvania and Eastplats rows are unproven in court. Compiled October 2026 from public reporting; amounts as reported at the time.