Two suspected illegal miners were killed after an exchange of gunfire with police during an intelligence-led operation in Roodepoort, Gauteng, as law enforcement agencies continue intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining and remove illegal firearms from communities.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 28 July, when officers from the Roodepoort Police, supported by the West Rand K9 Unit and BAS Security, responded to reports of a shooting in an open field.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, officers approached the area to investigate when the suspects allegedly opened fire, prompting police to return fire.
The exchange ended with two suspected illegal miners being fatally wounded. No police officers or private security personnel were injured during the operation.
Following the shootout, investigators recovered three unlicensed firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle, a .22 calibre rifle and a 9mm Uzi, together with 126 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Police Continue Crackdown On Illegal Mining And Firearms
Police said the operation forms part of broader intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations, which have increasingly been linked to organised crime, illegal firearms and violent confrontations.
Captain Sibeko said Gauteng police have recovered 388 unlicensed firearms and 6,650 rounds of ammunition since the beginning of July 2026.
The recovered weapons include 9mm pistols, revolvers, AK-47 rifles and shotguns seized during crime prevention patrols, stop-and-search operations, vehicle checkpoints, Operation Shanela and Operation Prosper.
Authorities say removing illegal firearms from circulation remains one of the key strategies for reducing violent crime across the province.
Police also reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying operations targeting illegal mining syndicates, which continue to pose serious safety and security risks in several parts of Gauteng.
Firearm Destruction Campaign Highlights Ongoing Enforcement
The latest operation follows South African Police Service (SAPS) activities earlier this month marking International Firearm Destruction Day.
During the campaign, SAPS destroyed 11,859 firearms and firearm components, with Gauteng accounting for almost 4,000 of the weapons.
The firearms destroyed included handguns, rifles, shotguns, combination firearms and firearm parts confiscated during previous police operations.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk, the latest destruction programme has increased the total number of firearms destroyed by SAPS over the past seven years to 317,811.
Police say intelligence-led operations, firearm seizures and the destruction of confiscated weapons remain central to national efforts to disrupt organised crime, combat illegal mining and improve public safety across South Africa.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS)