In a small township located 30 miles east of Johannesburg, the ground is being excavated as machines fill in deep pits, marking the end of a search ignited by a rumor that went viral on social media. Historically, this area had seen gold mining activities, but operations ceased when gold was no longer found, leaving the region deserted. Recently, however, the allure of finding gold has drawn attention once again, as dozens of hopeful prospectors armed with shovels and machinery flock to the fields to dig.

The rumor that sparked this frenzy surfaced two weeks ago on social media, claiming that gold had been discovered in a remote area close to the old mining town of Springs. Reports suggest that when someone posted about finding gold while digging a trench for fence posts, the information quickly spread like wildfire. Consequently, many unemployed residents from the nearby village of Gugulethu have descended upon the area, joining in the digging efforts driven by dreams of striking it rich.

According to reports from The Guardian, local councillor Dean Stone indicated that people are coming from hundreds of miles away to take part in this treasure hunt. The sudden influx of hopeful diggers has revitalized a forgotten area, bringing it back into the spotlight as people seek clues of hidden wealth, all stemming from a simple social media post that ignited a modern-day gold rush.