Over 1,100 arrested as South Africa intensifies crackdown on illegal mining and gang crime

South African authorities arrested 1,149 suspects during nationwide intelligence‑led operations in June as security forces intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, organised crime and gang‑related violence under Operation PROSPER.


In a joint statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said multi‑disciplinary teams conducted operations across several provinces, resulting in significant arrests and the seizure of illegal mining equipment, firearms, drugs and gold‑bearing material.

The suspects were arrested for offences including illegal mining, murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of gold‑bearing material, contraventions of the Immigration Act, possession of suspected stolen property and other serious crimes.

Among those arrested were 212 suspects for drug‑related offences, 269 for contravening the Immigration Act, 183 for illegal liquor trading, 12 for illegal possession of firearms, 10 for unlawful possession of ammunition, 13 for possession of suspected stolen property, five for murder and five for attempted murder.

Authorities also recovered 25 illegal and unlicensed firearms, 238 rounds of ammunition, 11 magazines, 95 dangerous weapons, a recovered truck, quantities of gold‑bearing material and various drugs including dagga, heroin, mandrax and CAT.

Security teams further confiscated illegal mining equipment, including 46 generators, 10 pieces of heavy‑duty machinery, 324 phendukas, 51 gas cylinders and seven cutting torches.

Highlighting major operations, SAPS and SANDF said a raid at the Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria, Gauteng, led to the arrest of 217 suspected illegal miners, while another intelligence‑led operation in Randfontein resulted in 121 arrests. In Mohlakeng, 70 suspects were arrested on 10 July, with police impounding two vehicles, seizing more than 20 generators and confiscating over 100 bags of gold‑bearing material.

In the Free State, joint teams working with private mine security demolished illegal gold‑processing sites in Thabong, arrested four foreign nationals and later apprehended three more at the St Helena 08 Old Shaft for illegal mining. Police also confiscated 12.5kg of suspected gold‑bearing material and specialised processing equipment. At Harmony Country Club, 27 suspects were arrested for trespassing and possession of housebreaking implements, while 17.1kg of stolen copper cable was recovered.

In the North West Province, operations in the Bojanala and Dr Kenneth Kaunda districts resulted in the dismantling of illegal processing sites, the seizure of 25 bags of gold‑bearing material and the arrest of 19 suspects for immigration offences.

The operation also targeted gang‑related crime hotspots. In the Western Cape, joint operations across 17 high‑crime precincts resulted in the arrest of 1,054 suspects for offences including murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, drug‑related crimes and illegal liquor trading.

In Gauteng, two men aged 21 and 26 were arrested in Westbury after police recovered two unlicensed 9mm pistols, magazines and live ammunition during intelligence‑led operations.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, joint teams executed 14 search warrants in the Nelson Mandela Bay District, arresting five suspects and recovering firearms, ammunition, cocaine, tik, mandrax and dagga. During a raid in Helenvale, officers recovered a Norinco pistol, ammunition and drug paraphernalia before withdrawing due to a hostile crowd. Police later recovered 5,725 abandoned Stilpane tablets and syrup bottles elsewhere in the district.

SAPS and SANDF said Operation PROSPER would continue to rely on intelligence‑driven operations to dismantle organised criminal networks involved in illegal mining and gang‑related crime.

“Operation PROSPER members remain focused and heavily guided by ongoing intelligence to maximise impact and fulfil its intent to combat organised criminal networks and gang violence‑related crimes in hotspot provinces,” the joint statement said.