Pretoria – Police have arrested at least 388 individuals for illegal mining-related offences, including unlawful possession of explosives and gold-bearing material.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, revealed that the suspects, who are from various countries, were arrested during a nationwide “Vala Umgodi Operation”.
The arrests were made between 1 and 13 July 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said the suspects were arrested for illegal mining-related offences and various other serious crimes, including;
- unlawful possession of explosives,
- unlawful possession of firearms,
- possession of suspected stolen property and
- unlawful possession of gold-bearing material
Vala Umgodi Operations targeted illicit activities in Limpopo
The SAPS spokesperson said police officers from the Mopani District Vala Umgodi Task Team dismantled an illegal gold processing operation in Thabine Village, Tzaneen, on Saturday, 12 July 2025.
“The team acting on credible intelligence information uncovered an unlawful gold processing operation at a local residence,” Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said.
“Members apprehended the property owner, while one suspect fled the scene.”
During a search of the premises and surrounding areas, police found a significant cache of illicit mining and processing equipment.
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said police also found 11 bags of suspected precious minerals, two generators, 21 steel marbles, two spades, two hammers, two picks, an iron bar, and processing steel bed material.
Gauteng
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said on 7 July 2025, police conducted an intelligence-driven operation at Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg, targeting illegal mining activities.
“Six suspects, aged between 18 and 27 years, apprehended for contravening the Mineral Act 28 of 2002 and the Immigration Act,” the SAPS spokesperson said.
“The suspects were found in possession of various items, including pendukas, generators, steel balls, steel pots, oxygen cylinders, gas cylinders, and stampers.”
Free State
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said Vala Umgodi teams, in collaboration with mine security, carried out several proactive and intelligence-led operations across the province, leading to the arrest of 87 undocumented foreign nationals.
The police also seized firearms and mining equipment.
“The team further conducted a raid at G Hostel in Thabong and arrested five suspects aged between 27 and 29 years for possession of unlicensed firearms,” Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said.
“They seized a revolver, a British .303 rifle, and one pistol as well as ammunition.
“One suspect was arrested for the possession of gold-bearing material.”
Limpopo
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said that on 8 July 2025, police disposed of confiscated and abandoned illegal mining equipment seized during the Vala Umgodi operations in Burgersfort.
The items crushed into pieces and disposed of at a scrap metal yard in Steelpoort included:
- 50 generators,
- 40 jackhammers,
- 15 picks,
- 35 shovels and spades,
- and 30 wheelbarrows
Northern Cape
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said on 9 July 2025, Vala Umgodi police members and Ekapa Mine Security conducted a joint intelligence-driven operation.
The operation led to the arrest of 15 suspects aged between 20 and 48 years for contravening immigration legislation and engaging in illegal mining activities in the Francis Baard District.
“The team also arrested a 23-year-old suspect for illegal mining in the Samaria area,” the spokesperson said.
Mpumalanga
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said during a Vala Umgodi Operation in Sabie on 11 July 2025, the police arrested three foreign nationals, aged between 27 and 33 years.
“The combat and proactive members, while conducting a disruptive operation, spotted the suspects allegedly engaged in illicit mining activities and arrested them,” Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said.
“The team also confiscated shovels and picks.”
North West
Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi said Vala Umgodi Operations in the North West have “managed to stabilise the situation in the gold mining sector in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district”
However, the spokesperson said illegal mining for chrome and associated crimes had been reported in other districts, including Mooinooi, Tlhatlaganye, Tweelagte, Witrandjie, and Masebudule.
Illegal mining activities were also reported in Tlhatlaganye, Tweelagte, Witrandjie, and Masebudule.
Other items seized during recent nationwide Vala Umgodi Operations include:
- 4 unlicensed firearms;
- 36 rounds of ammunition;
- 7 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, and 13 trucks, as well as two TLBs
- 166 pendukas
- 43 generators
