A massive multi-departmental clampdown on illegal mining activities just outside Mbombela resulted in several arrests and the seizure of heavy equipment on Thursday, May 28.

The operation was led by the Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, and the Ehlanzeni District Police Commissioner, Major General Dorah Xaba, targeting notorious zama-zama hotspots at Mashoboto and Mankele farms near Mbombela.

According to a statement from the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, the operation netted multiple arrests for illegal mining-related activities, while a number of suspects were without valid documentation to be in the country.

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The police confiscated gold-bearing material, generators, and an assortment of specialised tools used to extract the precious metal.

Macie emphasised that a comprehensive report would be tabled before the Department of Mineral Resources to forge a more aggressive, coordinated provincial response. He also raised the alarm over the severe safety risks these illicit operations pose to families living in nearby communities.

While this raid marks a significant victory, illegal mining continues to plague several Lowveld areas, including Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest, Barberton, and Elukwatini.

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Macie vowed to support the SAPS’ Operation Vala Umgodi, which has already seen a string of successes across the province, noting these illegal operations heavily attract undocumented foreign nationals from neighbouring countries, including Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.