Illegal Mining

Officials from the Department of Mineral Resources and the Hawks, also known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), warned the Portfolio Committees on Police and Mineral Resources that unless the problems mining towns are currently facing are dealt with urgently, the efforts made to eradicate illegal mining operations and syndicates will hit a crisis point. The Department briefed Members of the Committees on the actions being taken to combat illegal mining operations taking place at surface mine sites and abandoned mining operations.

Illegal mining is an important issue affecting many towns throughout Gauteng, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, the Free State, and Limpopo. High levels of unemployment in the communities affected has resulted in illegal mining thriving in these areas. Often the money from illegal mining also finds its way into other forms of organised crime which means that many of the communities affected by illegal mining are also now dealing with problems from gangs.

The Hawks highlighted the need for specialised units and officers in the fight against illegal mining.

In addition, the crime-fighting body stated that corruption within the criminal justice system, an oversupply of illegal immigrants who take part in illegal mining activities which perpetuate the scourge of illegal mining, and the persistence of derelict and ownerless mines despite the Department of Mineral Resources’ rehabilitation programme, all hinder the impacts of the efforts made to combat the problem.