Small diamond mining operators in the Northern Cape have taken over where larger firms such as De Beers and Trans Hex left off when they closed or sold their diamond mines.

The Northern Cape supplies 36% of South Africa's diamonds. Many small companies are active around Kimberley, the Orange River and the west coast. These include Petra Diamonds, Nare Diamonds, Dwyka Diamonds, KimCor Diamonds, Rockwell Diamonds, Pangea Diamond Fields and Firestone Diamonds, all of which are listed offshore.

Two others, Diamond Core Resources and Tawana Resources, are listed on the JSE. Some of the companies operating in the area, such as Petra Diamonds and Rockwell Diamonds, have bought mines from De Beers and Trans Hex, which still contain viable resources.