Amid a resurgence of illegal mining across South Africa, interventions and coordinated measures are being implemented to curb ongoing incidents across the country.

This was discussed during an update by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, on February 24.

During the briefing, South African Police Service (SAPS) Major General Nonhlanhla Zulu pointed out that the resurgence of illegal mining during this period has mostly affected Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State and the Northern Cape.

She explained that the resurgence had been characterised by the reoccupation of abandoned shafts and surface mining areas; armed conflicts between rival syndicates; an expansion of illegal chrome and gold operations; and an increased use of heavy machinery, such as excavators, tractor-loader-backhoes and tipper trucks.

She also noted the growth of illegal washing plants and smelting houses; cross-border movement of undocumented foreign nationals; and community destabilisation and displacement.

Trends across Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal include active syndicate-driven operations, as well as illegal mining environments being heavily weaponised.

Additionally, Zulu noted that cross-border criminal linkages persisted, especially with Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Zulu explained that illicitly mined minerals were being transported along major corridors – N4, N12, N3, N11 and N2 – toward coastal export routes, particularly the Port of Richards Bay, identified as a key exit point for chrome and other mineral consignments.

“Illegal mining remains a nationally coordinated organised crime threat.”

In order to combat these issues, Zulu noted that interventions were structured on provincial stabilisation operations; targeted national intervention operations; integrated Natjoints coordination and the support from the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Focus areas include the disruption of syndicates and value chains; stabilisation of hotspot communities; protection of infrastructure and environmental asses; and the prevention of resurgence post-demobilisation.

With regard to Operation Vala Umgodi II, Zulu noted that approved national funding had been secured, adding that the operation would be deployed end of February across Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

She explained that the objective was to prevent resurgence and reassert national operational dominance.

Additionally, Zulu explained that the SANDF support to the SAPS was expected to begin in Gauteng and North West during the first week of March for a duration of 12 months.

Focus areas include area domination patrols, static protection of high-risk sites, cordon and search operations and the stabilisation of high-density illegal mining hotspots.

During the briefing, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia acknowledged the importance of SANDF intervention and the efforts to secure funding to address the resurgence of illegal mining, describing the deployment of the SANDF as an important intervention.

In addition to policing operations, Cachalia said the approach towards organised crime should be strengthened through Vala Umgodi-type interventions, further highlighting the issues of policy, legislation and regulation that required attention.

As previously explained in Mining Weekly, government established nationwide operation Vala Umgodi in 2023 to combat illegal mining in seven provinces – the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape.

During the presentation, Zulu also presented recommendations to the portfolio committee on recommendations of the sixth Administration relating to illegal mining.

Recommendations included expediting implementation of the Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining Policy by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), as well as collaboration between the Council for Geosciences, Mintek and the SAPS on the use of technologies developed to track illegal miners as a prevention measure.  

In the presentation, it was also recommended that the DMPR assess the extent of the damage caused by illegal mining activities and put measures in place to address the issue.