“It is unacceptable that an emerging crime trend, such as illegal mining, does not have tailored training courses to tackle the scourge. This is more alarming in the context of the socio-economic impact of illegal mining in the country,” said Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police.

The committees met to consider a petition from M Clarke, MP, on behalf of residents, calling for the urgent implementation of an action plan to address illegal mining in Ward 92, City of Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng. The committees acknowledged the successes achieved through Operation Vala Umgodi and the arrests achieved. But the impact has not been far-reaching, and the scourge continues to affect communities.

While the committees acknowledged that illegal mining is not primarily a police challenge, they highlighted that a multidisciplinary approach should be enhanced. This will include the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, to ensure mining houses are held accountable for decommissioned mines and the rehabilitation of unused mines. The Department of Home Affairs should ensure adherence to immigration laws and ensure tighter border control while the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment should ensure adherence to South Africa’s environmental laws.

The committees further called for a shift in focus towards dismantling the criminal syndicates that lie behind illegal mining by targeting the kingpins orchestrating these operations. “Focusing only on foot soldiers will not yield long-term results, particularly given high unemployment and poverty, which make it easy to recruit desperate workers,” the committees noted.

In addition, the committees stressed the importance of cross-border collaboration between local law enforcement and their regional counterparts to facilitate intelligence sharing, joint planning and disruptive operations across national borders. Furthermore, the committees encouraged the SAPS to work with good private security companies and the South African National Defence Force as a force multiplier to supplement SAPS’ thin resources.

The committees also reiterated the need to enhance the resourcing of all departments involved, to ensure they are capacitated to respond effectively to illegal mining and related crimes.

As part of the response to the petition, each committee will direct formal questions to relevant departments. The responses will be compiled into a comprehensive report, which will be tabled in the National Assembly for further consideration and action.

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On Saturday, Vala Umgodi operators working together with mine security, were called to a mine near Hennenman, where three men emerged from underground.

“The suspects were found in possession of antiretroviral (ARV) medication and mining equipment, indicating their involvement in illegal mining activities,” said Free State police adding that four illegal foreign nationals were also arrested in Allanridge, Virginia and Thabong.

The operation continued in the Khuma section, where two more males, both 19 years old, were arrested. They were also found in possession of gold-bearing material and gold processing equipment.

On Thursday, 21 August 2025,  Vala Umgodi operational members engaged in a disruptive operation in Van Standensrus. Police on patrol near the border spotted two bakkies loaded with sheep wool.

“Officers intercepted the vehicles and found large quantities of sheep wool. The 45-year-old driver of a Ford Ranger had a load valued at an estimated R25000, while the 31-year-old driver of a Toyota Hilux had a load valued at approximately R15000.
“Neither driver was able to produce receipts to verify ownership of the property. The two individuals will be processed by the Stock Theft Unit and charged with possession of suspected stolen property,” said the police.

The police urged communities  to urge community members to report any suspicious activities related to illegal mining, illicit trade, and cross-border crime. Information can be reported anonymously to the SAPS Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS App.

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The arrests were made for offences including bribery, possession of drugs, trespassing, possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of gold-bearing material and illicit mining.

​On Sunday morning, Vala Umgodi operatives, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, swooped on Virginia and Meloding.

“During a search of a salon, a 32-year-old female, who is an illegal foreign national, was arrested. Two other individuals were also taken into custody after their documents were verified as fraudulent by Home Affairs personnel,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Monday.

​According to the police, the team proceeded to search sleeping quarters at the back of the complex. In three units occupied by undocumented foreign nationals, drugs, including mandrax, crystal meth and rock, with an estimated street value of R150 000, were discovered.

Three suspects, aged between 24 and 36, including two foreign nationals and one female, were arrested for possession of drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act.

​In a separate operation in Meloding, two undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after being found inside tuck shops. All seven suspects arrested in Virginia and Meloding face charges ranging from possession of drugs to contravention of the Immigration Act.

​“A proactive team was also deployed to a mine where three undocumented males were observed engaging in illicit mining activities. They were arrested and a quantity of what is believed to be gold-bearing material was seized.

​“Furthermore, on 16 August, two teams, VOC 1 and VOC 2 [Venue Operational Centre], conducted disruptive operations in Viljoenskroon and Hoopstad.

“These operations resulted in the arrest of 12 undocumented foreign nationals found at various tuck shops in the two towns. Additionally, a 45-year-old foreign national was arrested after being found in his tuck shop with illicit cigarettes,” the police said.

​Also on 16 August, a combat team on patrol in Ventersburg arrested a foreign national on the N1, who was looking for a hitch-hike to Cape Town. A second charge of corruption was added after he attempted to bribe the police with R500.

​In another operation on 16 August in Virginia, a team working in collaboration with mine security arrested three suspects, aged between 37 and 28 years. The suspects were found on mine premises engaged in illicit mining activities and were in possession of gold-bearing material and illegal gold processing equipment.

“The multi-disciplinary operations in Lejweleputswa and surrounding municipalities are ongoing. All suspects are expected to appear in their respective magistrates courts soon,” the police said.

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According to SAPS, the Primrose Police Station has conducted 61 targeted operations against illegal mining in the past 19 months – 44 in 2024 and 17 so far this year. These have resulted in 110 criminal cases being opened, the seizure of 111 firearms, more than 1 700 rounds of ammunition, and the arrest of 676 undocumented persons. Police also confiscated nearly 1 700 pieces of illicit mining equipment, 218 generators, and liquor valued at more than R7.8 million.

SAPS said its efforts have been supported by regular stakeholder engagements, including a multi-disciplinary meeting in October 2024 with the Department of Community Safety and the Gauteng Premier’s Office to establish a unified approach to tackling the so-called Zama Zamas. Joint operations continue with the Provincial and Ekurhuleni District Visible Policing units, alongside the Primrose Community Policing Forum.

In June this year, police identified new illegal shafts believed to be part of a wider underground network. However, SAPS admitted that the nature of illegal mining has shifted towards extensive underground blasting, posing challenges due to a lack of specialised training and equipment for policing such environments. The department also reported two recent violent incidents targeting officers during arrests, in which firearms and ammunition were recovered.

SAPS stressed that illegal mining remains a national crisis requiring a coordinated, multi-departmental response. It rejected claims that it has failed to respond to the community’s written complaints, stating that the operational record demonstrates an active and ongoing effort to address the problem.

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Limpopo: Illegal Mining Activity at Heritage Sites and Abandoned Shafts

On 2 July, the Capricorn and Waterberg District Vala Umgodi Task Team carried out targeted inspections at the Makapane Valley Heritage Site and the Eersteling Monument. At the first site, abandoned mining equipment was found and seized, although no suspects were present. Later, at around 14:00, the team responded to reports of active illegal mining at the Eersteling Monument. Five individuals were arrested at the scene while loading mining equipment. A small container concealing gold was found on one of the suspects. All five face charges related to illegal mining.

Earlier the same day, a separate team operating in Diphalé village conducted a raid at approximately 04:10 based on intelligence of illegal activity at an abandoned mineshaft. Three male suspects, aged 64, 28, and 29, were caught in the act and arrested. They face charges related to illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act. Seized equipment included a generator, jackhammer, wheelbarrow, and shovel.

Mpumalanga: Repeated Raids in Pilgrim’s Rest Yield Immigration Arrests

In Pilgrim’s Rest, operations carried out on 2 and 3 July resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals for immigration-related offences. On 2 July, six foreign nationals, aged between 18 and 24, were arrested after being found at an old mine site without valid documentation. One suspect faces additional charges for resisting arrest and assaulting police officers. Officers seized various mining tools including picks, shovels, and generators.

A second operation on 3 July, involving the Combat team, Proactive team, and Phoenix Security Company, led to the arrest of another six undocumented foreign nationals, aged between 18 and 28. All suspects are expected to appear at the Pilgrim’s Rest Periodical Court. Police are working with the Department of Home Affairs to confirm the suspects’ legal status.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the officers involved for their continued efforts under Operation Vala Umgodi.

Free State: Firearms, Illicit Mining and Smuggling Operations Disrupted

In the early hours of 1 July, a Vala Umgodi Combat Team operating in Welkom conducted a targeted raid at G Hostel in Thabong, following intelligence reports. Two suspects were found in possession of a revolver hidden under a bed, while another three individuals in an adjacent room were discovered with a rifle concealed under a pillow. All five, aged between 27 and 29, were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Later that day, police patrolling the area with drone assistance apprehended a 26-year-old male actively engaged in illegal mining near his residence. Gold-bearing material was found in his possession.

Authorities also reported that 87 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested in recent operations across mining areas in Welkom, Virginia, Vierfontein, and Theunissen. These individuals are facing charges including contravention of the Immigration Act, trespassing, illegal mining, and possession of suspected stolen goods.

On 2 July, in Wepener, a self-initiated operation led officers to a parked truck at a petrol station. Upon inspection, 44 boxes of illicit cigarettes valued at approximately R150,000 were discovered. Two suspects, aged 50 and 34, were arrested for possession of suspected illicit goods. Officials from the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs confirmed the cigarettes were illegal.

Gauteng: Mining Equipment Seized During Springs Operation

On 30 June, the integrated Vala Umgodi team conducted an operation in Springs which resulted in the seizure of 18 phendukas, 110 steel balls, and one electric motor used in illegal mining activities. Officers also performed stop-and-search operations and searched seven premises, which resulted in several arrests.

Authorities have stated that these actions are part of sustained efforts to combat illegal mining and related crimes. Law enforcement agencies involved in Operation Vala Umgodi have reiterated their commitment to continued enforcement operations aimed at protecting mineral resources, ensuring compliance with immigration laws, and upholding public safety.

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Speaking at the official launch, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola outlined the scope and objectives of the operation. He said the second phase of Shanela would build on the gains of the initial campaign, which led to over 1.2 million arrests in 18 months. Since 1 April 2025, over 180,000 individuals have already been arrested under Shanela 2, including:

• 6,971 suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes

• 1,881 for murder

• 1,576 for attempted murder

• 2,367 for rape

• 18,255 for assault GBH

• 1,119 for illegal firearm possession

• 25,643 for drug-related offences

The SAPS has further recovered 1,441 firearms, 27,005 rounds of ammunition, and 862 hijacked or stolen vehicles.

Masemola stated that Operation Shanela II will focus on six key crime categories: murder (including gang and taxi-related killings), hijackings, illegal firearms, drug crimes, and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The aim is to improve operational efficiency through increased police visibility, advanced technologies, and focused deployments informed by recent crime statistics.

Nationwide Implementation

The operation is being implemented across all provinces, with each region focusing on local crime patterns.

Free State: Targeting Border and Urban Crime

In Mangaung Metro, Operation Shanela II is active in hotspots including Bloemspruit, Parkweg, Botshabelo, Boithuso, Kopanong, and surrounding border areas. The multidisciplinary team, which includes the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority, and Provincial Traffic officials, recently held a joint parade in Wepener before executing cross-border operations.

• Nine undocumented individuals were arrested for immigration violations.

• A Toyota Quantum was impounded, and 75 vehicles and 161 people were searched.

• In Qibing, compliance checks led to the confiscation of 25 litres of home-brewed alcohol and 128,520 litres of alcohol. Fines were issued for unauthorised liquor sales.

• In Bloemfontein CBD, a 41-year-old man was arrested for dealing in crystal meth. Six undocumented individuals were detained, and several road traffic fines were issued.

Eastern Cape: Rural Crime and Firearms

In Mthatha, Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso launched the provincial leg of the operation on 27 June. She described Shanela 2 as a “deliberate escalation” of crime-fighting efforts.

Early successes include:

• Arrest of two suspects in Sulenkama for possession of 24 suspected stolen goats.

• In Lusikisiki, a 46-year-old was arrested for possession of a 9mm pistol linked to a civilian.

• A 39-year-old was arrested in Bajodini, Qumbu, for possession of an unlicensed revolver.

Gauteng: Urban Crime and Illegal Mining

In Johannesburg, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni led operations in Jeppe and Cleveland precincts. Detectives arrested 941 suspects for crimes including murder, attempted murder, hijacking, robbery, and rape.

• Roadblocks, raids, and mining disruption efforts resulted in 32 arrests for immigration violations, illegal mining, and drug-related offences.

• Fines totalling R24,500 were issued for traffic and by-law infringements.

At Mary Fitzgerald Square, officers held a coordinated parade before being deployed for stop-and-search operations throughout Johannesburg.

Western Cape: Tackling Gang and Liquor Offences

In Mfuleni, officers arrested a 23-year-old man for illegal liquor sales after a tip-off. A large quantity of alcohol was confiscated. The suspect is expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court.

Community Outreach and GBVF Focus

Alongside enforcement, SAPS has intensified outreach to rural communities. In Bloemspruit, station leadership held a session on policing accessibility and community engagement. Multiple arrests were made for drug possession, possession of dangerous weapons, and immigration offences.

Operation Shanela II is intended to focus acutely on combatting gender-based violence. SAPS reported the arrest of 2,367 rape suspects and 162 attempted rape suspects in the previous three months. Additionally, convictions have been secured in high-profile GBVF cases, including several life sentences handed down by regional courts for rape of minors and serial sexual offences.

Furthermore, General Masemola has urged all officers to conduct themselves with discipline and integrity, maintain high command and control, and continue their efforts to “track and trace all wanted criminals.” He reaffirmed the SAPS’s commitment to creating safer communities and enhancing public trust in law enforcement.

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Ntsokolo, a 40-year-old father of six children, survived underground for 18 days with no food except scraps of expired goods. He said he would be willing to testify during upcoming hearings of the SAHRC, but had not yet been approached.

A date for the SAHRC hearings has yet to be announced, but the 30 May deadline for public submissions has closed.

In an interview, Ntsokolo said he witnessed fellow miners succumb to hunger and eat human flesh. This corroborates media reports and affidavits from several miners that were submitted to the Constitutional Court.

“We tried to tell them, hey man, you cannot do that. They said these human bodies are like pork,” said Ntsokolo. Miners were drinking brack salty water, he said.

During Operation Vala Umgodi, the police were assigned to “smoke out” illegal miners from the hijacked gold mine. The operation garnered global attention in January, when images were broadcast showing survivors – and body bags – being pulled to the surface from shaft 11 in a metal cage during a court-ordered rescue operation.

“Everyone wanted to come out… Everyone was like, ‘Being in jail is much better than being in this jail of the mine.’”

Ntsokolo made his break 1.2km underground by making his way to Shaft 10.

“I told myself, I am not going to die here. I have to go out. God, please help me, I am not going to die here.”

He surfaced five days later, on Christmas Day, and was arrested immediately.

“After what we’ve been through, when we got to the surface, the police were pointing guns at us. They saw us as hardcore criminals,” he said.

Ntsokolo was charged with trespassing and illegal mining. On 29 May 2025, he was sentenced to seven months in prison or a R7,000 fine. He said he spent four days behind bars while arranging payment.

“I’m ready to tell the Human Rights Commission everything that happened,” he said. “They need to know the truth.”

Amid a death toll of at least 93, the government’s Natjoints police-led operation is accused of effectively trapping illegal miners underground for months without food, water or medicine.

At the time, the police presented a united front. But, months later, and with the HRC inquiry under way, it seems some police officers might speak out about alleged wrongdoing.

Johannes Dire, North West Provincial Secretary Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), said that the union is aware of accusations of misconduct within the police. But he said the inquiry would likely clear the police of wrongdoing.

“Our members acted within the confinement of the law, and therefore, POPCRU supports (the inquiry),” he said.

“Police officers are used to external investigation, and it wouldn’t be a new issue.” But the union would support whistleblowers, as it had always done, he said.

This reporter visited Stilfontein numerous times from January to April 2025, interviewing miners, civil society organisations and police officers.

An officer who is facing serious legal challenges spoke to GroundUp anonymously, out of fear of reprisal.

He claimed that if Operation Vala Umgodi hadn’t blocked the community from lowering food into the mines, lives could have been saved.

“People died because those officers chose power over humanity.”

He said members of the Vala Umgodi task force removed ropes used by community members to deliver supplies to trapped miners, cutting off their lifeline.

“They didn’t just target illegal miners — they robbed them, beat them, took their IDs and passports, even when valid. And they did it with soldiers by their side,” he claimed.

Tensions ran high between local police, like this officer, and officers deployed from other provinces. The officer claimed locals were often excluded from Vala Umgodi due to suspicion of corruption.

“There are corrupt officers, yes. Some used police vans to deliver food to the miners. But not all of us were corrupt,” he said. “We were willing to help, but we were shut out.”

Dire confirmed that POPCRU had received “a number of complaints” about strife between police, many of which were “addressed expeditiously”.

“The unfortunate part has always been that the result of operations creates overwhelming situations at the police stations. That’s why maximum capacity is needed,” he said. “Still, we are open to external investigations.”

He added that local officers wished to be part of Operation Vala Umgodi, but that was “impossible due to the magnitude of the operation”.

SAPS police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe responded: “No local police officer was excluded. The reason we utilise dedicated teams is to ensure we don’t remove resources from local police stations so that day-to-day policing continues with required capacity.”

A pillar of the inquiry is likely to be testimony from critics of the operation who have stated that miners who died were trapped inside the mine because they were too weak and too far away from the exit shafts.

During the standoff at Stilfontein, the government defended the operation as essential to fight crime. Vala Umgodi involves multiple departments and has been rolled out in numerous provinces, with operations ongoing.

Police said that exit points were established for resurfacing.

And in a statement in December, Natjoints said that miners had the “capability to exit the underground tunnels independently … Their delayed emergence appears to be a tactic to evade arrest by law enforcement agencies.”

After the mass retrieval of bodies in January, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said the miners had gone underground on their own volition.

“If you go to a dangerous place, such as a neglected mine, and stay there for about three months, starving yourself to death, how does that become the responsibility of the state?” he told the media, adding that the mine owners — the Chinese-owned Buffelsfontein Gold Company — should be held accountable.

In a March parliamentary reply, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that in Stilfontein, 1,916 miners had been arrested and charged with illegal mining, illegal immigration, possession of gold-bearing material and unlawful possession of explosives. The total cost of the operation, he said, had been more than R36.7-million.

Now, in June, the North West health department has begun mass burials of unclaimed bodies.

Besides investigating the conduct of Vala Umgodi officers, the HRC will also examine the impact of illegal mining on human rights in communities, and gaps in the policy framework on artisanal mining.

Civil society grouping MACUA (Mining Affected Communities United in Action) which raised the alarm last year over the plight of the miners underground, plans to testify. In a damning written submission to the HRC, MACUA refers to the “Stilfontein massacre”, claiming that “state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings” had been carried out under the pretext of combatting illegal mining.

MACUA says the HRC did not respond fast enough.

For those who lived through the operation — on the ground or underground — accountability is long overdue.

“I’m very hurt by what the government and police did to us,” Ntsokolo said. “We’re still waiting for someone to care.”

“I said we must help those who are weak to get out first”
Ayanda Ndabini, 36, spent nearly a month trapped underground in Shaft 11. He went down on 20 September with food, paraffin, and a rough plan. But by November, everything had collapsed — supplies, the communication systems, sense of time, and, almost, the will to live.

“Food finished and we started trying to look for a way to other shafts, like Margaret Shaft, trying to check if we can find a way to get out from there,” he said. “But we failed … we didn’t find any way leading there. We then came back and sat down,” he said during an interview in mid-February.

What followed was a slow unravelling of human dignity in the underground dark. “Some people then started eating cockroaches. They would hide when eating them, but you’d see them gathering cockroaches and putting them in bottles. Then they’d make a fire and fry them.”

With paraffin gone, fires were lit with rotting timber left behind by mine engineers.

Communication with the surface, once maintained by handwritten notes passed through a bucket-and-rope system, disintegrated in early November. “We started panicking when we noticed that instead of the rope coming in there [were] stones being thrown in — and then we immediately knew that there might be police outside.”

Then there was a shift after community leaders pleaded with police, and the miners got word that help had arrived and they would begin to be pulled out. They pleaded for food, and they were given supplies of porridge and Mageu.

On 12 November, a letter came, asking Ndabini to exit. “I said we must rather help those who are weak and can die anytime to get out first. We already had one dead body. I was hungry too, but I chose those who were weak to go first.”

The group began prioritising the most vulnerable. Then on the morning of 15 November, Ndabini surfaced. “I told them I’d report everything to the community as soon as I got out and ask for more food to be lowered. People underground were perishing — many couldn’t even stand. Even those we brought up were immediately taken to hospital.”

He claimed that food supplies were suspended again on 16 November, and resumed on 22 November.

Written by Nomazulu Moyo for GroundUp and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Inkosi Cebekhulu, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu provided clarification regarding high-level arrests under Operation Vala Umgodi and international engagement on cross-border illegal mining.

High-Level Arrests Under Operation Vala Umgodi

Referring to the earlier reply on 30 December 2024, Mchunu confirmed that Operation Vala Umgodi is specifically designed to disrupt and dismantle illegal mining operations on the ground. The individuals typically apprehended through this operation are frontline operatives rather than senior figures within organised criminal networks.

Given the nature of the operation and its tactical focus, the arrest of financiers or kingpins, those operating behind the scenes and benefitting financially, is considered highly improbable. As such, no total number of high-level arrests under Operation Vala Umgodi can be reported at this stage.

Engagement with International Partners on Cross-Border Illegal Mining

The South African Police Service (SAPS), through the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), has actively engaged with both regional and international partners to address the cross-border dimensions of illegal mining.

Key efforts include:

• Bilateral Cooperation: In the Free State, the DPCI holds bi-monthly bilateral meetings with authorities in Lesotho and with other South African provinces sharing borders, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. These meetings aim to enhance cross-jurisdictional coordination on illegal mining issues.

• United Nations Engagement: The DPCI participates in structures and initiatives under the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focused on combatting illegal mining and the transnational trafficking of precious metals.

• Global Partnerships: The DPCI is currently involved in collaborative efforts with Switzerland and the United States, specifically targeting the international networks involved in illicit mineral trade.

• Regional Coordination via INTERPOL: Through INTERPOL, the DPCI engages with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the International Platinum Group Metals Association (IPA) to address cross-border syndicates and strengthen enforcement capacity.

In addition to these partnerships, the DPCI chairs the National Coordination and Strategic Management Team (NCSMT), which has developed the National Integrated Illegal Mining and Illicit Precious Metals Trafficking Strategy. This interdepartmental framework seeks to combat illegal mining holistically, involving entities such as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). The DMRE is specifically responsible for closing derelict and ownerless mines, a critical measure in curbing opportunities for illegal mining and mitigating environmental damage.

The DPCI is currently overseeing eight registered projects and two major investigations targeting illegal mining syndicates. Furthermore, its draft Illegal Mining Strategy is in the final stages of consultation and will soon be presented to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster for approval.

Mchunu noted that while Operation Vala Umgodi has not yielded arrests of kingpins or financiers, broader inter-agency and international measures are being pursued to dismantle the complex networks behind illegal mining in South Africa.

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In the Northern Cape, high-visibility raids and targeted operations by the multidisciplinary Operation Vala Umgodi task force resulted in five arrests for drug-related offences.

In Kakamas, officers raided three properties in the ZF Mgcawu District, seizing crystal meth, Mandrax tablets and dagga with a combined street value of R18,000. Three men, aged between 37 and 51, were arrested and charged with drug dealing. Meanwhile in Phuthanang, Frances Baard District, a 37-year-old suspect was nabbed following the discovery of drugs worth R42,000 and cash suspected to be proceeds of crime. A separate arrest followed in Currey Street, Kimberley, where another individual was caught with illegal substances.

Traffic checkpoints in the Namakwa and Frances Baard areas also saw several individuals fined under the Road Traffic Management Act.

Separately, in Bloemfontein, a suspect linked to a fatal shooting was intercepted and arrested during a Vala Umgodi “way-lay” operation. A 34-year-old Bangladeshi shopkeeper was gunned down at the Best African Shop on Power Street on Saturday evening. The shooter, a 50-year-old Bangladeshi man, allegedly attempted to flee to KwaZulu-Natal but was stopped near Theunissen on the R30. He will appear in court shortly.

Over in Mpumalanga, SAPS continued its clampdown on illicit mining and immigration violations. On 18 May, seven individuals aged 19 to 42 were arrested in Witbank for contravening the Immigration Act after failing to produce valid documents during a routine stop-and-search on the N4 old Pretoria Road.

In a separate sweep in Sabie, six suspects aged 21 to 58 were arrested after officers discovered abandoned illicit mining equipment and dagga worth over R2,000 at Simile informal settlement.

In Limpopo, officers arrested 16 suspects in two separate operations between 16 and 17 May. In Giyani, one individual was caught red-handed at an illegal mining site with a bag of suspected precious minerals, a headlamp, and a shovel. Eleven more were arrested in Malamulele and Giyani for immigration offences. Additionally, in Ga-Chuene Village, Capricorn District, a man was arrested for illegal sand mining after a group attempted to flee a site when officers arrived. A white Nissan truck and six shovels were confiscated. Three further arrests followed in N’wamitwa Village, Mopani District, for immigration-related offences.

According to SAPS leadership across the affected provinces, Operation Vala Umgodi continues to deliver results in its mandate to disrupt criminal networks, specifically within and around mining communities. Whether this momentum can be sustained or expanded remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear the authorities are making their presence felt.

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“These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other crimes such as murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of counterfeit goods,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Tuesday.

“More than 100 unpolished diamonds were seized during three separate Vala Umgodi operations in and around the areas of Kleinzee and Port Nolloth and Northern Cape leading to the arrest of 15 illegal miners,” the police said.

Other items seized during Vala Umgodi operations in April 2025 include:

• 27 unlicensed firearms,
• 385 rounds of ammunition,
• 71 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, big mining machineries, trailers, and tractors,
• 341 phendukas and 6 phenduka stands.

In the same month in the Free State, the SAPS’ Bomb Disposal and Explosive Experts, with the support of a private security company, seized 290 detonators. These explosives were allegedly left abandoned by illegal unground miners at Kopanong mine.

On 21 April 2025 in Gauteng, an intelligence-driven operation in Primrose and Rietvlei, resulted in the arrest of 10 illegal miners. In Primrose, a joint operation at Marathon/Rasta informal settlement led to the arrest of eight individuals found in possession of various equipment that include phendukas, steel balls, gas cylinders, and generators. Two of these suspects were also found in possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunition.

In KwaZulu-Natal, an intelligence driven operation by members who are deployed to Operation Vala Umgodi in the province led to the arrest of five suspects. They were found in possession of R1.5 million worth of Eskom property in the vicinity of Empangeni and Mtunzini policing precincts on 06 April 2025.

A Vala Umgodi operation in Limpopo led to the arrest of 69 illegal miners and undocumented foreign nationals in and around Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Mopani, and Capricorn Districts between Saturday, 12 April 2025 and Sunday, 13 April 2025. Various illegal mining equipment were also seized.

On 26 April 2025, the Vala Umgodi team deployed in Mpumalanga arrested 38 suspects during a disruptive operation carried out at Simile informal settlement in Sabie and at Skoonplaas informal settlement in Pilgrims Rest.

In the North West, a total of 21 accused appeared in the Brits and Mogwase Magistrates’ Courts on 24 April 2025, for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.

These suspects were apprehended during Vala Umgodi operations executed on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 and Thursday, 24 April 2025, in Witrandjie village near Sun City and Majakaneng village, outside Brits respectively.

Out of 21 accused, three were found guilty by the Brits Magistrate’s Court and sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of R2000 wholly suspended. The court also ordered that the accused be deported to their countries of origin. The other accused were remanded in custody until their next individual appearances at both Mogwase and Brits courts.

Operation Vala Umgodi is government’s response to prevent and combat illegal mining activities in the country.

Since its inception in December 2023, more than 20 000 suspects have been arrested while over 600 firearms, that include imitation firearms (toy guns) and 14 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized through Vala Umgodi operations

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