PROJECT: ILLEGAL MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA - A NATIONAL SECURITY CRISIS (PART 1)
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Illegal mining of natural stone, slate, precious metals and minerals has escalated into a full-scale organised criminal economy. What was once perceived as isolated survivalist digging has evolved into a coordinated, syndicate-driven industry that threatens national security, undermines state authority and destabilises socio-economic development.
On 10 –11 February 2026, this crisis resurfaced dramatically in the Gugulethu informal settlement in Payneville,
Springs, on the East Rand, Gauteng. Hundreds of individuals descended on municipal land after rumours spread
that gold particles had been discovered in soil at a local cattle kraal.
The land belongs to the municipality but is utilised by local farmers for livestock grazing.
Despite the absence of any geological confirmation of commercially viable gold deposits, chaos erupted.
Fortune-seekers, armed with shovels, buckets, and spades, began excavating the area.
Makeshift access control points were established.
Entry fees were introduced — initially R20.00 per digger, later increased to R50.00.
Individuals identifying as “zama zamas” began offering soil-sifting services at R100.00 per session.
To date, there is no official confirmation of viable gold reserves at the site.
Geological experts consistently note that in South Africa, gold is typically located in deep-level geological formations,
not loose surface soil. Without lawful prospecting rights, exploration permits and scientific verification,
such activity remains speculative, unlawful and dangerous.
WHY ILLEGAL MINING IS A MAJOR THREAT:
1. IT FUELS ORGANISED CRIME:
Illegal mining operations — commonly referred to as zama zama networks — are no longer informal survivalist activities.
In provinces such as Gauteng, North West and Free State, operations are:
Controlled by criminal syndicates.
Linked to human trafficking.
Connected to illegal firearms distribution.
Associated with drug networks.
Used for large-scale money laundering.
Syndicates frequently control access to abandoned shafts and charge protection fees. Violence between rival groups is common.
2. MASSIVE LOSS OF STATE REVENUE:
South Africa remains one of the richest gold-producing regions globally, particularly across the greater Gauteng basin.
When gold is mined illegally:
No tax revenue is collected.
No mining royalties are paid.
No regulatory compliance is enforced.
Gold is frequently smuggled out of the country.
This represents economic sabotage. The state loses billions in potential revenue while communities are deprived of lawful economic benefit.
3. SAFETY RISKS AND FATALITIES:
Illegal mining operations occur in:
Abandoned shafts.
Structurally unstable tunnels.
Toxic gas environments.
Flooded underground compartments.
There have been repeated incidents of:
Underground fatalities.
Armed confrontations between rival groups.
Violent community unrest.
These operations often require dangerous rescue interventions by the South African Police Service and emergency services.
4. INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE:
Illegal mining causes:
Sinkholes.
Land collapse.
Structural damage to roads and buildings.
Electricity theft.
Severe water contamination through acid mine drainage.
Communities across Gauteng and other mining provinces continue to suffer long-term environmental consequences.
5. EXPLOITATION OF POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT:
South Africa’s high unemployment rate creates a recruitment pool for illegal mining syndicates. Many individuals involved are:
Desperate job seekers.
Undocumented migrants.
Former formal mine workers.
While syndicate leaders profit, low-level miners face extreme danger and criminal liability.
6. WEAK MINE REHABILITATION AND REGULATORY GAPS:
Thousands of abandoned or ownerless mines exist nationwide.
When mining companies close:
Rehabilitation is often incomplete.
Shafts remain accessible.
Security is limited.
State capacity to seal every shaft is inadequate.
These gaps create easy entry points for criminal exploitation.
7. CORRUPTION AND INSIDER INVOLVEMENT:
There have been repeated allegations of:
Officials tipping off syndicates.
Stolen gold being laundered into legal supply chains.
Weak prosecution of syndicate kingpins.
Without addressing corruption, enforcement remains reactive rather than preventative.
8. UNDERMINING THE RULE OF LAW:
When hundreds of individuals openly mine illegally — as recently witnessed in Springs — it results in:
Public disorder.
Community tension.
Distrust in authorities.
Vigilantism.
It signals that criminal conduct can occur without immediate consequence.
Listen to the following insightful interview with Mr. Mike Bolhuis,
a renowned Specialist Investigator and recognised authority on criminal behaviour,
organised crime structures and the underlying causes of crime in South Africa.
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