SA's porous borders contribute to proliferation of illegal mining

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu has told members of Parliament (MPs) porous borders are contributing to the proliferation of illegal mining.

Of the 1,826 "zama zamas" or illegal miners arrested in the Vala Umgodi operation at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, only 26 were South African.

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Mchunu and Minister of Minerals Gwede Mantashe were before a joint meeting of Parliament’s portfolio committees on Tuesday to provide a status update on its efforts to clamp down on illegal mining.

Having started in December 2023, Operation Vala Umgodi is expected to wrap up in May.

Since the start of Operation Vala Umgodi, more than 20,000 arrests have been made, most of them foreign nationals, including some who were previously arrested.

Parliament has heard it is not only people coming across the borders to mine illegally, but they are bringing huge quantities of explosives with them to be used in their illegal activities.

Mchunu said a broader response is needed.

“This is what will be the consequence if we continue with borders that are leaking.”

Mantashe said the statistics disprove the narrative that poor South Africans are turning to illegal mining out of desperation.

“The numbers don’t say what we are saying as sympathisers. They give us a different story of foreign nationals raping our economy.”

Mantashe said the government cannot be blamed for "zama zamas" dying in abandoned mines because they are voluntarily making the choice to put their lives at risk.