Law enforcement officials accused of failing to adequately address illegal mining in SA

STILFONTEIN - Law enforcement officials are being accused of failing to adequately address illegal mining in the country.  

These allegations were made by the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) during a press briefing on Monday. 

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The union has been monitoring the rescue mission of illegal miners in Stilfontein, North West, for almost a month now.  

Since August, police have arrested more than 1,300 zama zamas as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, aimed at shutting down illegal mining syndicates.  

The union's president, Mametlwe Sebei, said law enforcement’s strategy of targeting illegal miners is misdirected.  

"The organised criminal syndicates that are involved, and I dare to say this, in conspiracy with corrupt elements in the state and with the big mining companies, they have unleashed a reign of terror against the miners and their families, but it is also spilling into other communities as well."

Meanwhile, some lobby groups and community leaders in Stilfontein argue that more must be done to expose large corporations benefiting from illegal mining activities across the country.  

However, Sebei insisted that the approach of targeting illegal miners fails to address the root causes of the issue.