South Africa has announced the deployment of 3,300 military personnel to combat the pervasive issue of illegal mining, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office on Thursday. With the country’s vast mineral wealth, the surge in illegal mining activities has become a pressing concern, causing frustration for mining companies and contributing to criminal activities, according to local residents.
President Ramaphosa has granted approval for the deployment of 3,300 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to execute an intensified anti-criminality operation targeting illegal mining across all provinces. Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesman, stated that the military personnel will work in collaboration with the police force in this concerted effort.
The operation is slated to run until April of the following year and will incur a cost of nearly 500 million rand ($27 million) from state coffers, Magwenya added.
Commonly known as “zama zamas” (meaning “those who try” in the Zulu language), these informal miners, primarily foreigners, arrive in South Africa seeking to earn money from clandestine pits, enduring challenging living and working conditions.
The Johannesburg region bears the scars of slag heaps, shafts, and deep trenches left by generations of miners since the gold rush in the 1880s, which played a pivotal role in the city’s establishment. Access to old mines is often controlled by rival gangs, leading to occasional violent clashes for authority.
Illegal mining operations not only impact active mines but have also become a longstanding concern for mining companies due to financial losses and threats to their staff. Incidents such as the mass rape of eight women last year and the fatal shooting of five individuals near an abandoned shaft west of Johannesburg in July underscore the broader societal challenges associated with illegal mining.
Amidst high unemployment, illegal immigration, and rising crime rates, these issues are emerging as crucial political concerns in the lead-up to the general elections next year. The deployment of military personnel signals a strong government response to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by illegal mining and its repercussions on the nation.
