Florida police intensified their war on illegal mining even further when they hosted a massive integrated operation on March 18, which featured units from various other police stations.

The Gauteng Crime Intelligence Unit, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, and a significant private security force also took part.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ivy Mabuso, the ongoing operations aim to disrupt illegal mining throughout the area as much as possible.

Also read: Police bust major zama operation at Florida mine

“Every time we raid the mining sites, it costs them hundreds of thousands of rands to replace the equipment that we confiscate and destroy,” she says.

“Not to mention the losses they suffer in loss of production on the day of the operation, and the time it takes to replace the lost equipment.”

Police targeted three illegal mining hotspots, starting with the area along Albertina Sisulu Road behind the BP service station, where units approached from Main Reef Road, Hebbard and Westlake streets, and Albertina Sisulu simultaneously.

This open space has become well-known for illegal mining in recent years, with significant mining activities taking place there.

Police discovered a large and well-organised mining site, dismantling and destroying various makeshift mining structures, and confiscating mining implements.

After a quick planning session, police moved on to the next location, the notorious New Canada informal settlement, once again approaching in groups from various directions, in an effort to keep the element of surprise.

Unfortunately, the zama zamas have a highly effective network of lookouts posted at all approaches to the site, resulting in the mining site being largely abandoned at their arrival.

Also read: Roodepoort residents march against zama zamas

Nevertheless, an extensive search of the area and the informal settlement was conducted, uncovering a large number of mining implements, which were promptly loaded into waiting police vehicles.

The police convoy once again divided into groups and then descended on the Jerusalema informal settlement, which has sprung up on and around the old Roodepoort Rugby Club grounds in Hamberg.

At the police’s approach, hundreds of illegal miners scattered in all directions, disappearing among the crowds.

The day’s operation yielded significant results, resulting in the arrest of eight illegal immigrants suspected of illegal mining, and the confiscation of gas bottles and petrol-powered water pumps. Steel mining pots, 13 phendukas, various other mining implements, and a large haul of alcohol from illegal shebeens.

“The message is clear,” says Mabuso. “Illegal mining will not be tolerated in the Florida Policing Precinct, and we will continue making every effort to disrupt their business at every opportunity.”