Latest News & Developments
More than five months after Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein, police confirm 156 cases involving 1 831 suspects remain pending. While over 1 000 miners have been found guilty on charges ranging from illegal mining to immigration violations, human rights organisations argue these are 'crimes of poverty' that could be resolved through proper regulation of abandoned mines.
Macua has made submissions to the South African Human Rights Commission ahead of the national inquiry into illegal mining.
In a significant crackdown, the Hawks arrested Rex Solomon Mlambo, 69, and seized over R730,000 in cash and gold nuggets during a meticulous operation in Gauteng.
Tension escalates in Kuruman as PP Gemstones has accused industry giant Assmang of illegal operations.
South Africa's mining industry faces a crisis, with over 6,000 abandoned mines posing safety risks and economic challenges for communities. Explore the implications of these derelict sites and the urgent need for action.
Police operation 'Vala Umgodi' leads to the arrest of an 18-year-old undocumented foreign national after discovering 2. 5kg of suspected gold-bearing minerals at an illegal mining operation in Limpopo's Gravelotte area.
In a dangerous clash at a Bethal mine, three suspects have been arrested after a perilous shoot-out with security officers.
A pastor was caught red-handed with R60,000 worth of gold bearing material and R9,200 in cash, raising concerns over illegal mining activities.
A body, thought to that of a Lesotho national involved in illegal mining activities, was found by Limpopo police in a shallow grave at Zwartkrans Mine near Makapan's Valley, in Mokopane, Limpopo.
Six suspects have been arrested in Barberton for possessing explosives believed to be linked to illegal mining activities.
Four suspects, including three Zimbabweans and one Mozambican, were arrested in Limpopo after police uncovered an illegal gold processing laboratory.
With a focus on high-profile criminal cases, the Hawks reveal significant arrest figures and the dismantling of drug labs in South Africa.
Four police officers have been arrested on charges of aiding the escape of Stilfontein kingpin Neo James Tiger Tshwaeli, raising serious concerns about police corruption in the region.
In Stilfontein, the government’s crackdown on illegal mining was meant to restore order. But for residents like Rita de Sonsa, the absence of the miners has brought economic despair and uncertainty. As businesses crumble and hunger rises, the community is left questioning whether the crackdown did more harm than good.
A deadly shoot-out erupted between metro police and a group of illegal miners in Germiston during a crackdown on illicit mining activities. One suspect was killed, and another was rushed to the hospital with injuries.
Stilfontein Crisis Committee is contemplating charging the government with murder following the discovery of over 70 miners.
Minister Gwede Mantashe has called for intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, describing it as a crime against the economy. Over 240 illegal miners have been arrested in Stilfontein’s ongoing rescue operations.