Authorities have arrested 217 suspects during a large-scale security operation targeting illegal mining activities at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria, Gauteng, as South Africa intensifies efforts to dismantle criminal mining networks operating across the country.
The coordinated operation, conducted on Tuesday, brought together members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Sibanye Protection Services and Fidelity Specialised Services under the government’s Operation Prosper initiative.
Officials said the raid focused on illegal mining operations as well as crimes commonly linked to the sector, including immigration violations, illegal firearms and organised criminal activity.
Security forces target illegal mining network
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that 217 people were arrested during the operation. Among those detained were undocumented foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
In addition to immigration-related arrests, two suspects were charged with possession of ammunition and allegedly assisting undocumented immigrants.
Security teams also confiscated equipment believed to have been used in illegal mining activities, together with food supplies and alcohol found at the site.
Officers recovered a 9mm pistol, two magazines and 118 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, highlighting concerns that illegal mining syndicates may have access to military-grade weapons.
Operation Prosper forms part of a broader national campaign approved by President Cyril Ramaphosa to combat illegal mining, organised crime and gang violence. Authorities have increasingly relied on joint operations involving police, the military and private security companies to disrupt criminal groups operating around abandoned and active mines.
Illegal mining remains a growing national concern
Illegal mining continues to pose significant security, economic and environmental challenges across South Africa. Criminal syndicates are often accused of exploiting abandoned mine shafts, stealing mineral resources and placing nearby communities at risk.
The government has stepped up enforcement over the past two years following several deadly incidents linked to illegal mining, while mining companies have also increased investment in security around their operations.
Concerns over the wider impact of illegal mining have also extended beyond mine sites.
Last week, officials warned that Johannesburg’s M2 highway could face serious structural risks because of illegal sand mining near bridge support structures. The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) said excavation alongside one of the city’s busiest transport routes had raised concerns about long-term infrastructure stability.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) confirmed that inspectors had visited the location, although the department said responsibility for managing the affected infrastructure ultimately rests with transport authorities.
Department spokesperson Solly Phetla added that illegal sand extraction has been identified at bridges in several parts of South Africa, suggesting the problem is not isolated to Johannesburg.
Authorities say joint enforcement operations such as Operation Prosper will continue as they seek to disrupt illegal mining syndicates, strengthen border-related law enforcement and reduce crimes associated with illicit mining activities.
Source: The Citizen