Authorities in Johannesburg seized tons of gold-bearing soil worth over R2.5-million from illegal mining operations in Eikenhof on Tuesday.
The raid came after residents complained about the illegal activities.
Officials from various government departments, including the police and the Gauteng Traffic Department, carried out a coordinated operation targeting squatter camps along the R554 road.
These camps were involved in illegal mining using old, abandoned mines.
During the raid, 14 suspects, aged between 26 and 51, were arrested for running illegal gold mines.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said the arrests were part of an investigation that came from complaints from the community.
The team arrived at the illegal sites around 10am with a search warrant.
Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, head of the Hawks in Gauteng, visited the scene and praised the team’s efforts.
He warned about the dangers of illegal mining, especially the use of toxic chemicals like cyanide, which poses serious health and environmental risks.
Kadwa also spoke about the negative impact of illegal mining on the country’s economy and asked communities to report any suspicious activities.
The suspects, all from Zimbabwe, are scheduled to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on 15 August. They face charges related to illegal possession of precious metals and violations of the Immigration and Environmental Acts.
In recent months, police have stepped up efforts to shut down illegal mining operations across the country through their “Vala Mgodi” operations, focusing on abandoned mines. The government has been investing heavily to fight the growing problem of illegal mining in South Africa.
In the West Rand district, former police minister Bheki Cele deployed special units to combat zamazamas (illegal miners) after eight women were gang-raped. Despite all the efforts in the area, residents say it’s business as usual for the zamazamas.
Pictured above: A scene where authorities arrested 14 zamazamas.
