Police in Mpumalanga have launched a targeted operation to disrupt illegal gold mining activities at two farms outside Mbombela, with authorities confirming early morning raids at a property held by a local land trust.
The operation, which commenced at 4:00 AM, was initiated following intelligence gathered by provincial crime intelligence units. Jackie Macie, Member of the Executive Council (MC) for Community Safety in Mpumalanga, confirmed that the department became aware of illicit activities on land that was previously subject to a successful land claim and returned to the trust by the government.
“We want to applaud our crime intelligence because they are the ones who detected this area that there is an operation,” Macie stated. “Hence we have taken a step that we need to come ourselves and see.”
During the operation, police arrested two individuals, though several others fled the scene or retreated underground through tunnels dug by the illegal miners. Macie acknowledged ongoing challenges, including suspected tip-offs from within law enforcement ranks that have allowed suspects to evade capture.
“The fact that we have been able to establish that within ourselves as SAPS there are people who are working with these criminals, it means we are going to arrest them,” Macie said. He noted that seven police officers were arrested the previous week for alleged collaboration with construction mafias and other criminal syndicates.
Illegal mining operations in the province have raised significant safety and infrastructure concerns. According to Macie, perpetrators often carry high-caliber firearms, and their deep drilling activities have contributed to structural damage, including sinking holes on provincial roads. The MC emphasized that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) would be engaged to assess whether the area could be formalized for legal mining operations.
The crackdown forms part of broader efforts to address illegal mining across Mpumalanga, particularly in tourism-dependent towns such as Pilgrim’s Rest, Sabie, and Baberton, where illicit activities have reportedly affected local businesses. Macie affirmed the government’s commitment to combating these crimes despite the complexities involved.
“It’s a challenge but we are not saying we are not going to win this war,” Macie said. “We as government we need to win this battle, come hell or high water.”
He added that the provincial police reset program aims to identify and remove rogue elements within the service to restore operational integrity. Authorities continue to coordinate with sister departments and, where necessary, seek additional support to ensure the safety of communities and the protection of provincial infrastructure.