The Sekhukhune District’s Operation Vala Umgodi team continues its relentless efforts to combat illegal mining activities through targeted enforcement actions. On 17 June 2025, during a strategic follow-up operation conducted at Ha-Pasha, intelligence-led officers identified suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
Upon arrival, the team swiftly apprehended nine individuals aged between 22 and 44 for their involvement in illegal mining and violations of the Immigration Act. The suspects are currently in custody at Mecklenburg SAPS.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of several confiscated items, including three wheelbarrows, a generator, a jackhammer, two shovels, three chisels, and petrol (10 litre and five litre containers).
The South African Police Service remains committed to protecting our country’s natural resources and maintaining law and order. As illegal mining continues to threaten our environment and communities, the SAPS will persist in its efforts to dismantle these unlawful networks and ensure a safer, sustainable future for all.
