In the past couple of days, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has led a recovery operation in Sabie, Mpumalanga, to rescue illegal miners trapped in an abandoned shaft. Three bodies were retrieved on 4 December, and the operation was temporarily paused to gather additional resources and lighting. At the time of publication, at least ten miners have been rescued alive and arrested. Those who exited the shaft reported over 100 miners still underground. All individuals rescued are facing charges related to illegal mining and immigration violations.
National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, visited the scene and noted the operation highlights the grave risks associated with illegal mining, not only to the miners but also to neighbouring communities. Authorities have identified a growing pattern of human trafficking, with many miners claiming they were brought to the site under false pretences of job opportunities and were then held hostage and forced to mine gold illegally. Some of the heavily armed bosses controlling these operations are reportedly keeping the miners underground against their will.
In recent months, police have made significant strides in arresting key figures behind illegal mining operations, Masemola said. In November, two kingpins, Joacham Chivayo, a Zimbabwean national, and Ayanda Gungwa, a South African national, were arrested by the Hawks with R15 million worth of unwrought gold. They have since been charged with contravening the Precious Metals Act. Another kingpin, Loren Louw, was charged with 1,176 counts of money laundering and violating the Precious Metals Act, amounting to R2.6 billion. In September, Gary and Justin Mitchell were arrested for the theft of R20 million worth of illegally mined chrome.
Furthermore, six kingpins from Khutsong and Carletonville are facing legal action after the Hawks and NPA secured preservation orders for 51 vehicles and seven properties linked to illegal mining. These cases represent a fraction of the ongoing efforts to dismantle the illicit mining networks in South Africa, Masemola said.
Operation Vala Umgodi, initiated in December 2023, remains a ‘critical tool’ in combating illegal mining activities. The SAPS said while progress has been made, the situation demands more resources and continued support to ensure the safety of all involved and to hold the criminals responsible accountable.
Since December 2023, more than 15 000 people have been arrested in connection with illegal mining, and 427 high calibre firearms and more than 10 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized from illegal mining operations.
In Stilfontein, six bodies have been recovered in the past 24 hours, with 26 illegal miners resurfacing over the last two days. More than 1,300 miners have been rescued in recent weeks, and operations continue as the police work to prevent further tragedies.
General Masemola stated that the SAPS is committed to addressing the dangers of illegal mining, which he noted is often tied to other crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, and armed violence. The Commissioner said law enforcement will continue to hold criminal networks accountable and urged all South Africans to join in this fight by reporting illegal activities and supporting the police’s efforts. “Together we can and we will put a stop to these illicit activities if we are all committed to the fight,” said Masemola.
