South African Police Arrest 225 Illegal Miners In North West Province

Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya welcomed the arrests of 225 illegal miners in the North West province.

These arrests occurred when the illegal miners came out of underground tunnels in Orkney due to starvation and dehydration. The police reported that these miners are part of a larger group, possibly hundreds or even a thousand, who are stuck underground without food, water or other essentials.

The SAPS and the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) are working together to block the routes used to bring food and supplies to these illegal miners.

Earlier this week, they stopped communities near the abandoned mining areas in Orkney from delivering food parcels and necessities to the miners. The enforcement of state authority prompted these illegal miners to come out of hiding.

The SAPS announced that the operation is ongoing, and both the SAPS and SANDF are continuing to monitor the old abandoned mine shafts as more illegal miners resurface. Lieutenant General Sibiya noted that Operation Vala Umgodi is producing positive results throughout the country.

"We are closely monitoring the situation that is unfolding in the North West province, we are not backing down until all those illegal miners resurface and are arrested," Sibiya said, SA News reported.

She added, "Since its inception in December 2023 to date, more than 13,691 suspects have been arrested in the seven provinces that are hotspots for illegal mining. We have seized R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million through Operation Vala Umgodi."

Most of the people who were arrested were South Africans, Mozambicans and Basotho nationals.

Earlier this year, mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Minister Nobuhle Nkabane promised artisanal and small-scale miners that the government would keep helping them grow in the mining industry.

Nkabane recalled that the artisanal and small-scale mining policy was introduced in 2002 as a part of the government's efforts to grow a globally competitive and transformed mining sector.

President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year acknowledged that persistent challenges are hurting the nation's mining performance and his government is working hard to fix the problems in the mining industry.