The participants at the upper end of the chain are responsible for funding the activities of those at the lower end. This involves arming the lower end operators and paying bribes to security personnel. The employees of the mining companies are also involved in allowing access to disused mining shafts by illegal miners. It was reported after the recent accident that Harmony Gold mine suspended 77 staff and 45 contractors on suspicion of helping illegal miners get underground through Harmony's disused Eland shafts. The Committee raised concern and suspected that there could be some involvement of Mine Managers with illegal mining.