Soldiers and SAPS members on Thursday dismantled illegal mining operations in Randfontein, forcing zama zamas to flee.

• SANDF soldiers dismantled two illegal mining operations in Randfontein, forcing zama zamas to flee into the bush, abandoning their tools and equipment.
• The army and police officers recovered and confiscated hidden industrial machinery, including several generators, jackhammers, and explosives hidden inside holes.
• The site showed signs of prolonged activity, with makeshift cooking areas and plastic toilets scattered around.
  

SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were active in Randfontein, Gauteng on Thursday, attempting to dismantle illegal mining activities.

News24 observed soldiers arriving in a convoy of marked vehicles.

Zama zamas, who had been working in an open field, fled the scene, with some disappearing into underground holes, while a large number scattered and vanished into the surrounding veld.

Soldiers, accompanied by SAPS officers, confiscated machinery and burnt some material used by the zama zamas.

The field, located less than 3km from the Sporong informal settlement, had recently been a hotspot for chaos caused by the zama zamas. Their activities had forced over 300 residents to flee their homes and seek refuge at a community hall in Randfontein.

READ | Haunted by zama zama violence: Sporong’s displaced speak out from stuffy, overcrowded hall

The troops then moved to a second location, where they uncovered a massive illegal mining operation. Upon their arrival, illegal miners fled into the bush, abandoning their tools and equipment. Hidden inside holes, the troops discovered machinery, including several generators, jackhammers, and explosives.

The site showed signs of prolonged activity, with makeshift cooking areas and plastic toilets scattered around.

Behind the Sporong informal settlement, the area was littered with dirty and wet clothes, gumboots, hand gloves, industrial ropes, electrical cables, and blankets, many of which were found scattered in the bush.

These items were either burned or loaded into police vehicles for removal.

Notably, some of the generators and jackhammers appeared to be relatively new.

The army’s operation sparked mixed reactions among Sporong residents, who gathered at a local soccer field in anticipation of the soldiers’ arrival.

Community leader Victoria Tsabone expressed gratitude for the operation but emphasised the need for a more sustained presence.

“We are happy that the soldiers are combing the veld [field] around Sporong. We want more of these operations,” Tsabone said. “[But] this is not enough. We need more. The police officers deployed here are too few and need extra hands. We hope the army will remain in Sporong for many months until we relocate to our promised RDP houses.”

The community’s call for permanent army deployment highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing illegal mining and ensuring safety in the area.

SANDF General Officer Commanding Joint Operations, Major General Godfrey Thulare, said the deployment forms part of a coordinated Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) intervention aimed at stabilising affected communities and disrupting criminal syndicates operating in key hotspot areas.

“The legal basis for this deployment is derived from a section of the Constitution authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to employ the army in cooperation with the South African Police Service to prevent and combat crime to maintain law and order within the Republic.

“This constitutional provision recognises that threats to internal stability may require the coordinated deployment of national security capabilities to safeguard the safety and security of citizens,” Thulare said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information.