Johannesburg: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has successfully apprehended 427 suspects in a series of nationwide Vala Umgodi Operations conducted from 19 May 2025 to 25 May 2025. The arrests, involving suspects of various nationalities, were made in connection with illegal mining-related offences and other crimes, including attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, drug possession, and motor vehicle theft.
According to South African Government News Agency, the operations have been particularly effective in Mpumalanga, where six illegal miners were sentenced to six months of imprisonment by the Graskop Magistrate’s Court last month. These miners, after serving their sentence, will be deported to their countries of origin. The arrests were made during disruptive operations at the Bonnet informational settlement in March 2025.
During this week’s operations, law enforcement seized several items, including 12 unlicensed firearms, 506 rounds of ammunition, and seven vehicles. In the Free State province, the Vala Umgodi team arrested 16 suspects on 22 May 2025 for illegal mining activities around Bambanani East Old Shaft and K6 Langkuil Farm, with assistance from private security companies. Items confiscated included gold-bearing material, industrial equipment, and tools used in mining operations.
In Gauteng, a significant operation at Protea mine in Magaliesburg on 20 May 2025 led to the arrest of 40 suspects involved in illegal mining and related offences. Seized items included firearms, ammunition, explosives, and various mining equipment.
Two suspected cash in-transit robbers were fatally wounded in a shootout with the Vala Umgodi team in Wasbank, near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. The suspects were wanted for six robberies committed between June 2022 and March 2025.
In Limpopo, a multi-disciplinary operation resulted in the arrest of 161 undocumented foreign nationals. The team, comprising SAPS members and other stakeholders, focused on the Groblersdal and Marble Hall policing areas.
Efforts in the Northern Cape were led by senior police officials targeting illegal mining activities in the Namakwa area. Meanwhile, in the North West province, 91 suspects involved in illegal mining were arrested between 13 and 19 May 2025 across various locations.
The SAPS emphasized that Operation Vala Umgodi is a governmental initiative aimed at tackling illicit mining activities across seven hotspot provinces, including Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and North West. The SAPS reiterated that illegal mining is a criminal activity and urged community members to recognize its economic impact on society.