Cape Town, South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his weekly newsletter to the nation, has stated that significant progress is being made in the fight against illegal mining. Last week, government ministers from the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster reported notable advancements in curbing this criminal activity and apprehending those responsible.
According to South African Government News Agency, the efforts are not only targeting the miners but also those higher up in the value chain who benefit from these illegal activities. He cited Minister Gwede Mantashe’s statement from last year, describing illegal miners as “foot soldiers for criminal syndicates” that need to be dealt with as economic saboteurs. The President mentioned that disruptive operations against these syndicates have led to the forfeiture of assets and freezing orders against suspects’ assets by the Hawks and the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
President Ramaphosa emphasized the role of mining houses in this battle, noting that their non-compliance with laws around mine closure and rehabilitation has contributed to the proliferation of illegal mining. With around 6,100 derelict, unused, or abandoned mines in South Africa, he acknowledged the efforts of the Minerals Council of South Africa in fostering collaboration between the government and the mining sector to tackle the issue.
A crucial component of these efforts is the specialised Illegal Mining Task Teams set up by the South African Police Service (SAPS) last year. These teams have conducted intelligence-driven operations, resulting in over 4,000 arrests related to illegal mining. Additionally, between April and August of this year, more than 7,000 suspects involved in illegal mining were arrested for violating immigration regulations.
President Ramaphosa recently authorized the deployment of 3,300 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel to support SAPS operations against illegal mining for six months. This deployment is part of a multi-sectoral effort that includes various government departments and agencies.
Illegal mining is linked to crimes like money laundering, bribery, corruption, illicit financial flows, human and weapons trafficking, and other forms of organized crime. Recent incidents have highlighted the devastating effects of illegal mining on community safety, including gang rapes, mine explosions, and gas explosions linked to illegal mining activities.
The President reaffirmed the commitment to tackling all crimes of economic sabotage, including cable theft, extortion at construction sites, and damage to critical infrastructure. Through the work of specialised task teams, SAPS has made 61 arrests linked to extortion at economic and construction sites since April. In the last four years, 27 people have been convicted and sentenced for such crimes.
President Ramaphosa commended the law enforcement agencies and security services for their successes in addressing these crimes, emphasizing the importance of cooperation from communities, whistle-blowers, and industry in these efforts.