South Africa Police Arrest 217 Suspected Illegal Miners in Westonaria Raid
South African authorities arrested 217 suspected illegal miners during a major pre-dawn operation at the Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria, Gauteng, on Tuesday.
The raid, part of the multi-agency Operation Prosper, targeted illicit mining activities in disused shafts owned by Sibanye-Stillwater.
The operation involved the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Sibanye Protection Services and Fidelity Specialised Services. Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana confirmed the arrests and said suspects were being processed in groups at local police stations as investigations continued.
Of those detained, 107 were nationals from Lesotho, 56 from Mozambique, four from Zimbabwe and 21 were South Africans. Most foreign nationals are believed to be undocumented and will face immigration charges alongside any offences related to illegal mining. Two suspects were additionally charged with possession of ammunition and aiding undocumented immigrants.
Police recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition, a 9mm pistol with magazines, mining tools known locally as “phendukas”, food supplies, alcohol and cash. Kekana described the raid as the product of months of intelligence work, including drone and helicopter surveillance. A previous operation at the same site two months earlier resulted in only 30 arrests but uncovered significant ammunition caches.
Illegal mining, known as “zama-zama” operations, has been a persistent problem in Gauteng’s West Rand. Abandoned gold shafts have attracted transnational criminal networks, often involving undocumented migrants, and have been linked to violent crime, environmental damage and safety risks for communities.
Operation Prosper was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to combat illegal mining and associated gang activity. Tuesday’s large-scale action demonstrates renewed momentum in these efforts. No injuries were reported during the raid.
Authorities said identity verification and further investigations, including forensic and immigration probes, are ongoing, with additional charges possible. SAPS urged the public to continue providing information on illegal mining syndicates, noting that such operations undermine legitimate industry and fuel broader criminal enterprises.
