State-owned diamond miner Alexkor is no stranger to peculiar stories. There was that case, for instance, when workers were smuggling homing pigeons on to the mine in their lunch boxes, then stealing by tying diamonds to the legs of these birds. Subsequently, there was an order that pigeons should be shot on sight.

Well, now an even more bizarre story has come to light. In 1995, Alexkor and the police collaborated in establishing a sting operation involving an undercover detective, who fronted as a music-store owner. This detective became romantically involved with a shopkeeper, who also acted as a go-between for the illicit diamond traders. Through her introductions, a number of deals were concluded, which the detective managed to capture on video-tape. Three men have since been convicted.

Perhaps government needs to be as inventive in making a decision on the future of the operation.

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