Nationwide VALA UMGODI operations to combat and prevent illegal mining led to the arrest of 1 775 suspects of different nationalities in the month of May 2025.
These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property.
SAPS members deployed in the seven provinces as part of OPERATION VALA UMGODI also prevent and combat crimes, which are not directly related to illicit mining activities.
Amongst some of the items seized during VALA UMGODI operations in May include:
▶️ 27 unlicensed firearms;
▶️ 827 rounds of ammunition;
▶️51 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, trailers, and excavators
▶️ 380 pendukas
Highlights of VALA UMGODI successes for the month of May 2025 include:
▶️ Free State: On 14 May 2025, police officers attached to Vala Umgodi deployment conducted operation at Kudu Old Mine area, which resulted in the arrest of two foreign nationals aged between 33 and 51 years. During their arrest, police seized 59.40 kilograms of suspected gold bearing material. In a separate incident, the team also affected the arrest of two foreign nationals aged between 36 and 42 years at Merriespruit Crusher Plant and seized gold bearing material weighing at 56.80 kilograms.
▶️ Gauteng Police in Gauteng conducted an intelligence-driven Vala Umgodi operation which led to the arrest of 102 suspects at Shaft 9, Mogale Crusher mine, West village in Krugersdorp on Thursday, 8 May 2025. The suspects were arrested for illegal mining, illegal immigration, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The team also seized pendukas, steel balls, firearms, and ammunition.
▶️ KwaZulu-Natal: Two suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers were fatally wounded in a shootout with Vala Umgodi team in KZN at Wasbank , near Ladysmith on 22 May 2025. Police operationalised intelligence about the whereabouts of the suspected wanted for at least CIT robbery incidents, which happened in KZN between June 2022 and March 2025.
▶️ Limpopo: The Operation Vala Umgodi task teams deployed in the five districts of Limpopo, achieved remarkable breakthroughs in the fight against illegal mining and related criminal activities. In May 2025 alone, the teams arrested 230 suspects, including 30 individuals directly linked to illegal mining operations. Among those detained 51 were South Africans, while 179 were illegal immigrants, 205 suspects were deported to their countries of origin.
▶️ Mpumalanga: 0n 03 May 2025, members deployed for Operation Vala Umgodi found four minors aged between 12 and 16 years underground during an operation targeting illegal mining activities at the Dukes old mineshaft in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumalanga. The 12-year-boy was taken to a place of safety. During the operation, police arrested 14 adult suspects aged between 18 and 47 years. One suspect was charged for possession of explosives, possession of dagga, and possession of illegal mining equipment.
▶️ Northern Cape: Members of Vala Umgodi arrested two male suspects aged between 29 and 35 for the possession of unpolished diamonds in Port Nolloth on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. The team intercepted a Ford bakkie allegedly transporting illegal miners, en-route to Port Nolloth and discovered a significant quantity of unpolished diamonds.
▶️ North West: Operation Vala Umgodi conducted in the Bojanala district led to the arrest of 91 suspects of different nationalities for contravention of immigration act and illegal mining from 13 to 19 May 2025. The team also seized diesel generators, hammers and jackhammers, shovels, electric extension cords, grease pumps, and pendukas and steel balls.
To date, a total of 27 275 suspects have been arrested while 697 firearms, that include imitation firearms (toy guns), and 16 247 rounds of ammunition have been seized through OPERATION VALA UMGODI since December 2023.
Operation Vala Umgodi is government’s initiative to combat, prevent illegal mining activities as well as to safeguard economic growth by addressing the root causes of illegal mining and enforcing the law.
1 775 suspects arrested, 827 rounds of ammunition and 27 firearms seized during nationwide Vala Umgodi operations in May 2025https://t.co/HADoCHF7n5#ArriveAlive #Crime #IllegalMining @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/q1Ryd8M81p
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 12, 2025
