By: Mining review Africa

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out coordinated raids on Friday, 13 March 2026, as part of Operation Prosper, an initiative aimed at disrupting illegal mining networks and the criminal economy linked to them.

According to a media statement by the South African Police Service, the operation followed intelligence gathering that identified areas where illicit mining activities were taking place.

Security forces moved into the communities and conducted targeted searches that resulted in arrests and the confiscation of tools and machinery commonly used in illegal mining operations.

Authorities said illegal mining operations depend heavily on specialised equipment and logistical support networks. By confiscating tools, machinery and other supporting infrastructure, the joint operation was able to disrupt the activities of criminal syndicates operating in the area.

The raids form part of broader law enforcement efforts to tackle illegal mining across the country. The issue has increasingly affected the formal mining sector, with illegal miners targeting both abandoned and active shafts to extract gold and other minerals.

Industry bodies have warned that these operations result in financial losses, infrastructure damage and serious safety risks for legitimate mining operations.

Police also noted that the security intervention in Kagiso and Rietvallei forms part of wider crime-fighting efforts under nationwide operations aimed at tackling organised criminal networks.

Police also reported several intelligence-driven operations targeting illicit mining and precious metals. In one such case, members of the Tactical Response Team arrested two foreign nationals in Pilgrim’s Rest for the possession of illicit gold valued at about R3 million.

Illegal mining—often associated with zama-zama groups—has become a persistent challenge in parts of Gauteng and other mining regions. In response, the government has increasingly launched multi‑agency operations, involving both the police and the military, to dismantle the criminal networks driving this activity.

During the Kagiso and Rietvallei operation, some suspects attempted to evade arrest by fleeing into nearby fields or climbing trees and pylons. While not all suspects were apprehended, authorities said the intervention significantly disrupted illegal mining activities in the targeted communities.

Residents in the affected areas welcomed the presence of security forces, with several community members expressing support for the operation and describing it as an important step towards improving safety and restoring stability in neighbourhoods affected by illegal mining.