The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee was briefed at Tempe, an SA National Defence Force (SANDF) hub of bases, units and accommodation outside Bloemfontein before moving to the border environment proper. Stops during the 21-23 October visit included the Maseru Bridge port of entry (PoE) and border town Ficksburg.

A social media post attributed to Defence Corporate Communication (DCC) has it, after hearing from SANDF officers posted to the border protection tasking Operation Corona, as well as Free State-based Border Management Authority (BMA) and SA Police Service (SAPS) officers, the SCSJ called for an urgent, unified borderline management plan and legislative reforms to strengthen inter-departmental co-ordination.

The call was prompted after the parliamentarians saw infrastructural decay, inadequate staffing, porous fencing and limited surveillance technology. Collectively these weaken national border integrity and facilitate illegal migration, smuggling and stock theft.

A BMA presentation brought to light a 70% staffing shortfall to cover a 285 km stretch of land border, the DCC reported. Similarly the SANDF told the NCOP members it has “only 42 soldiers” to patrol 485 km of land border. Police add to the tale of woe warning of persistent problems such as livestock theft, corruption and a lack of secure pounds with SA Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials confirmed ongoing efforts to counter illicit trade.

A public engagement session at the Ficksburg town hall in Clarens, according to a Parliamentary Communication Services statement, sought solutions to increasing challenges facing border agriculture. Stock theft, cross border crime, rural safety and SAPS service delivery were the main points raised.

Residents called for effective implementation of the National Rural Safety Strategy, particularly at police station level, as well as for sufficient resources to be allocated to safeguard rural communities and prioritise food security. Going further they “urged for adequate resourcing” for the BMA, SANDF and SAPS to effectively address cross-border criminality and ensure farming communities are safe.

The farming community further proposed strengthening SAPS stock theft units by way of increasing trained and skilled detective numbers; expanding vehicle fleets and mobility resources; integrating technology to enhance surveillance and investigative capabilities; and imposing heavier sentences for livestock related crimes.

Residents also called for greater SAPS capacity in rural areas, recommending appointing dedicated rural safety co-ordinators at rural police stations, equipped with dedicated vehicles and clear job descriptions focused solely on rural safety. They proposed the deployment of dedicated crime intelligence resources to rural areas to enhance proactive threat detection, support targeted policing operations and improve overall effectiveness of crime prevention strategies.

On cross-border crimes, residents emphasised increased patrols, improved mobility and additional resources to secure vulnerable border regions and disrupt illicit activities. They further proposed establishing area reaction teams at strategic points for quick response to emerging security threats.

Additionally, there was an appeal to finalise of overdue legislation, including the Pounds Act and the Controlled Animal Bill, to strengthen regulatory compliance on stock theft and stray animals. They also called for stricter regulation of auctions, abattoirs and speculators to curb livestock related crimes.

The Free State Regional Commissioner undertook to deploy additional SAPS personnel to address concerns of the Ficksburg community.

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Monday’s meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, discussed allegations that there are illegal Basotho military training camps in South Africa.

In a statement on Monday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the delegation of senior officials from South Africa included the Deputy National Commissioner of Policing and Co-chair of the National Joints Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, the head of Interpol in South Africa, a senior officer from SAPS crime intelligence, and a senior officer from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service delegation was led by Advocate Matsoso and consisted of the Deputy Commissioner of Police responsible for operations, Deputy Commissioner Likhama Moqhebi, senior officers from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service Crime Intelligence unit, specialised operations, and the detectives unit.

At the meeting, Commissioner Masemola appraised the Lesotho Police Chief on what SAPS crime intelligence driven operations have yielded thus far.

The post SAPS National Commissioner meets Basotho counterpart appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Zama zamas have ensnared recruits from Mozambique, deceived by the false promise of instant riches, says the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria.

ISS Intelligence and Terrorism expert Wilie Els told ProtectionWeb that the only way out of the zama zama conundrum is for South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to convene a national dialogue of all stakeholders.

In the meantime, the complex and well-oiled zama zama machine continues and is now focusing on a fresh crop of recruits identified and selected from increasing numbers of economic refugees crossing the border from Mozambique, says Els.

False promises are driven home initially not by the rifle-butts, starvation and money-withholding tactics of elite enforcers underground but by beguiling recruitment methods well-versed in persuasion tactics.

ProtectionWeb can now reveal previously-unknown zama zama organisation, logistics, recruitment and enforcement techniques. These shed new light on how zama zamas recruit, organise, operate and exploit extensive corruption not only with State-embedded actors, but also a symbiotic relationship with legal miners that provides logistic support underground and even moves their illegal product through legal channels.

Far from being in disarray due to on-gong high-profile Police action, zama zamas are in reality merely transfixing law enforcement with rear-guard actions whilst recruitment and business continue elsewhere.

With roots in land-locked Lesotho and apartheid’s mining migrant labour system, criminal gangs from Lesotho have long sown terror and violence and marketed and managed the modern slavery of the zama zamas throughout Southern Africa.

They rule a vast slave-driven under-empire and “Glittering Axis” of illegal mining and trading radiating from Lesotho through the adjacent goldfields of South Africa’s central Free State Province and beyond.

This extends to creating and managing a lucrative informal economy centred on supplying zama zamas with food, sex workers, medicine and other needs – loaves of bread compacted to 10% of their original size and duct-taped to the bodies of legal miner “food mules” and delivered underground at 20 to 30 times the original price – and often through normal mining channels.

This is achieved by structuring and managing exactly as would be expected of the perfect intelligence organisation – compartmentalisation, rigid and ruthless social control, and insidious deception and blending of operations with legitimate mining persons and activities, says Els.

And that’s only at operational level – State-embedded actors also create an enabling environment for illegal mining and porous policing and prosecution by exerting influence.

ProtectionWeb can reveal the flexible yet effective structures and enforcement techniques utilised to manage zama zama operations, down to their three basic operational levels and leadership terms used:

• At the national apex of the R47-billion per annum South African illegal gold industry stand the Nthlekos – crime overlords and kingpins with State and industry-embedded figures supporting them.
• Then more or less approximating provincial borders are the Nuni – those who coordinate intelligence and plan operations broadly in terms of focus and setting production quotas.
• At grass-roots operational level are the actual operators and enforcers known as Mackenzies.

Mackenzies operate in devolved and insulated cell-structures, organising weapons, deciding which gangs to use as enforcers, sourcing guns and weapons and organising logistics.

Mackenzies control actual operations of the zama zamas underground, ruthlessly enforcing set production quotas, enforcing discipline in a mix of direct violence and applying Famo music culture underground in resilience-building actions.

The post Zama zama underground empire still in place after Stilfontein saga appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The operation put emphasis on illegal border crossings and members confiscated man-made bridges and rafts along the Caledon River and its banks at various locations. People who crossed the border illegally were arrested, hundreds of sandbags were destroyed, and wooden logs were dismantled.

Vehicle investigators went to Mafeteng in Lesotho where a Ford Ranger was recovered, that was stolen in March 2021 in Berea (Gauteng). Members further recovered a Toyota Fortuner stolen in Krugersdorp in May 2024, a BMW stolen in Midrand in January 2017 and a Toyota Quantum with tampered VIN and engine numbers that were stolen in Soshanguve in May 2021.

In Botshabelo, stray cattle were found and inspected, revealing that the livestock were stolen in Dewetsdorp in August 2024, leading to police confiscating five cattle. In Dewetsdorp members followed up on information which resulted in the arrest of a male and the subsequent recovery of nine stolen sheep.

Police actions such as roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, stops-and-searches and compliance visits at second-hand goods dealers were further conducted. Some non-complying shop owners were issued with fines and others were arrested after illegal items were discovered.

The operation was lead by Crime Intelligence, and Police indicated these operations will continue on a regular basis to combat cross-border crimes.

The post Police recover vehicles, livestock and dismantle illegal crossings in five day operation appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The arrests were made during a joint operation by the BMA, members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police (SAPS) after a vehicle was stopped for searching as part of routine check at a Vehicle Check Point (VCP) of a Bi-National operation between South Africa and Lesotho on 25 June 2024.

“Five Lesotho nationals were in the vehicle and four were found to be previously declared undesirable and had been banned from entering the country in terms of the Immigration Act. The above-mentioned persons were searched and found to be in possession of concealed South African currency worth R1 480 050.

“The four who did not have the requisite documents were arrested for being in South Africa illegally and a case was opened. The money which was counted, and underwent counterfeit verifications, was then deposited into the state bank account pending further investigations on the matter,” the BMA said on Saturday.

The Commissioner commended the crime prevention contributions of BMA officials at Qashasnek port of entry and their detection systems.

“As the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, I am committed to ensuring the safety and security of our nation. To this end, we have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to criminal activities at our ports of entry.

“We will rigorously enforce the law and take decisive action against any illegal activities to maintain the integrity of our borders. The Junior Border Guards continue to display great effort in protecting our country. Their dedication and hard work are vital in maintaining the safety and integrity of our nation,” Masiapato said.

Masiapato said that any individuals caught engaging in criminal behaviour, will face the full might of the law.

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