Jimmy is an unlucky gambler, a drunk and a bully. He runs a team of zamas, pirate gold miners who risk everything to scratch a living from the rock-face. Since a mining accident years ago he’s been personanon- grata in town and he longs to get the hell out.
When an enigmatic geologist approaches him, claiming to have discovered a rich seam of gold, he senses that this is his opportunity to escape. But when things go wrong it turns out to be so much more. The chips are down and Jimmy has a last shot at redemption. If he can face his fear and return underground.

SYNOPSIS
Welkom, South Africa – Present day. JIMMY’s having another bad day, smuggling illegal gold out of the local mines. Bust by Mine Security boss KID KHEKHAZA for running a team of pirate gold mining zamas and threatened by his boss, PIET BEZUIDENHOUT for the loss of the consignment, he finds himself unable to pick up a whore and finally left bleeding on the tarmac outside his local pub. Things can’t get worse. Jimmy meets an enigmatic geologist, LETITIA SNYMANS, who tempts him with an opportunity to go after an undiscovered vein of gold in the notorious Level Thirteen at Shaft Six of the local mine.
It’s dangerous as hell but it might just be the break he needs to get out of town.
Since a fatal accident some years back Jimmy’s been persona non grata and,
though nothing was ever proved, he carries a heavy burden of guilt and a deep
fear of returning underground. When he loses his remaining rent money at the
casino, Jimmy decides to risk it.

He tries to enlist the help of SAMUEL MOTAUNG, an old friend and an experienced
pirate miner, but Sam’s dead set against the idea. Jimmy goes ahead anyway,
recruiting Sam’s naive nephew, THABO MOTAUNG, and a rag-tag collection of his
friends.

To refine the gold underground the zamas will need mercury, so Jimmy steals it from
his boss, Piet and approaches Piet’s dealer TONY CHANG to make a sale. He seals
the deal by hinting that Piet is screwing Tony by holding back supply. Tony accepts
and the zamas are set to go. When Sam gets wind of the plan, he’s furious that Jimmy has coerced his nephew, but Thabo makes it clear that he’s not backing down, so Sam reluctantly agrees to lead the team.

Then Piet discovers mercury is missing and he realizes that that someone close to him
is trying to muscle in on his turf. He and his son JAN BEZUIDENHOUT start to hunt for
the traitor. Below the surface, Sam’s experience helps them to evade detection and the vein is as rich as Letitia promised, but when a large blast detonates directly above them, all
hell breaks loose and Sam is trapped underground. Thabo and the rest barely get
out alive.

The terrified Zamas surface and scatter, only Thabo sticking with Jimmy as he goes in
search of help. None of Sam’s old team will risk their lives to save him. By going down with Thabo’s team and excluding them from the opportunity, Sam has made enemies. Jimmy’s
blown it again, and this time he may have caused the death of a good friend.
Letitia has worse news. The blast was the first of many set to seal off Level Thirteen
permanently. Letitia pleads with Jimmy to go underground himself. Time is running
out and soon both Sam and the gold will be sealed deep underground.
Jimmy is gripped by fear. He hasn’t been underground since the accident and he’s
tortured by memories of that day. Galvanized by the idea that Sam might still be
alive, he decides to face his terror. He can still turn this around and come out tops.
With every nerve in his body screaming for him to turn around, Jimmy heads down
into the darkness. Looking for Sam, the Bezuidenhout brothers find his Thabo and Sam’s distraught family. Thabo reveals everything he knows.
Jimmy makes it down to Level Thirteen where he finds Sam, dead. Beyond his body
lies the partially refined ore. Jimmy has to pluck up almost superhuman courage to
force himself into thenarrow stope where the ore is lying. Once he has overcome his
fears and collected the gold, Jimmy retrieves Sam’s good luck charm and heads
back up. Weighed down by the heavy sacks of ore, he barely makes it out alive.
Letitia accompanies him to meet the dealer Chang. Jimmy collects a suitcase of
cash. In the distance, the Bezuidenhouts are watching, unseen.
On his way out Jimmy is stopped by Khekhaza, who levels a gun and demands the
money. They fight and Jimmy knocks the weapon away. He’s about to deliver the
knockout blow when Roxanne retrieves it and aims it at Jimmy’s head. Turns out
Letitia and Khekhaza have their own plans for the cash. And they don’t involve
Jimmy.
But as they exit the building with the cash, Piet and Jan Bezuidenhout launch their
ambush. Jan rams Letitia’s car as she tries to get away and both are killed instantly.
Piet is killed in the shootout by Khekhaza. Jimmy retrieves the money from amidst
the carnage.
Jimmy heads off on foot, but Khekhaza gives chase across the veld. Mine Security
respond to the gunshots. At the last moment, Jimmy manages to escape into one
of the old mine shafts which litter the area.
A huge detonation shakes the earth and collapses the entrance, and Khekhaza is
left on the surface empty handed as Mine Security arrives.
Jimmy surfaces in a field far away.
Next morning Sam’s family discovers the suitcase of cash and Sam’s lucky charm left
by Jimmy, who is gone. Finally getting the hell out of town