In a sweeping national effort to clamp down on illegal mining and related crimes, 427 suspects of various nationalities were arrested across South Africa during Operation VALA UMGODI, which ran from 19 to 25 May 2025.
Speaking on the operation, SAPS national spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk confirmed that the suspects were detained for a range of serious offences. These included illegal mining, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, drug possession, and motor vehicle theft.
“This operation, led by multiple security forces and government departments, forms part of a broader national initiative to combat illicit mining and dismantle the networks that support it,” said Van Wyk.
Court Sentences and Deportations in Mpumalanga
Progress was also made on the judicial front. In a case concluded last month, the Graskop Magistrates' Court in Mpumalanga sentenced six illegal miners to six months' imprisonment. The individuals were arrested during targeted VALA UMGODI operations at Bonnet informal settlement on 25 and 30 March 2025. Upon completing their sentences, they will be deported to their respective countries of origin.
Weapons, Ammunition, and Vehicles Seized
Throughout the week-long operation, authorities confiscated a significant cache of illegal goods, including:
* 12 unlicensed firearms
* 506 rounds of ammunition
* 7 vehicles, including sedans and trucks
Provincial Highlights
Free State:
On 22 May, a joint policing effort led to the arrest of 16 individuals involved in illegal mining near Bambanani East Old Shaft and K6 Langkuil Farm. Seized equipment included gold-bearing material, industrial oxygen cylinders, "phendukas," burner pans, and other tools used for illicit processing.
Gauteng:
At Protea Mine in Magaliesburg, 40 suspects were arrested on 20 May for illegal mining, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and contravention of immigration laws. Confiscated items included generators, drills, phendukas, and other mining machinery.
KwaZulu-Natal:
A high-stakes shootout occurred in Wasbank, near Ladysmith, on 22 May, resulting in the deaths of two suspected cash-in-transit robbers. The suspects were believed to be connected to at least six robberies carried out between June 2022 and March 2025 in various towns including KwaDukuza and Verulam.
Limpopo:
Between 21 and 22 May, 161 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested in Groblersdal and Marble Hall. The operation was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team including VALA UMGODI members, the Department of Home Affairs, Eskom, private security, and SAPS.
Northern Cape:
Operations in the Namakwa District were personally overseen by Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola and other senior officers. These raids targeted ongoing illegal mining activities across the region.
North West:
Between 13 and 19 May, law enforcement arrested 91 suspects in the Bojanala 1 District, covering areas such as Kroondal, Rustenburg, Hartbeespoort, and several surrounding villages. The arrests are part of a larger strategy to dismantle organised illegal mining operations in the province.
Tackling a National Crisis
Operation VALA UMGODI represents a coordinated and sustained government response to the growing challenge of illegal mining in South Africa. The campaign is focused on seven hotspot provinces: Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and North West.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious mining activities, stressing that illegal mining is a criminal offence that threatens the country’s economic and environmental stability.
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