When jobless residents of Pilgrims Rest tried to chase away illegal miners from their town, the men notoriously known as zama zamas came back heavily armed to protect their trade.
“Their guns are so powerful that even the police have been seen retreating,” a resident who did not want to be named told Sunday World.
But last week police struck back, raiding the hills around the Mpumalanga hamlet, which sprung from gold mining in the 1870s, and arrested 16 people involved in illegal mining.
A fortnight earlier, the men in blue were forced to retreat from the area to avoid confrontation with the heavily armed men.
The operation, which included members of the South African National Defence Force
netted suspects, including foreign nationals.
In Mpumalanga, and other provinces, Operation Vala Umgodi is a law enforcement initiative aimed at closing down illegal mining operations, which have become a significant problem. These illegal mining activities often result in environmental degradation, dangerous working conditions and violent clashes between rival groups.
Nationally, the focus of Operation Vala Umgodi is to combat illegal mining, which also contributes to crime, including weapons smuggling.
However, despite police making arrests, the illegal mining activities simply never stop.
“Generally, we are happy, but it’s an ongoing process. It’s not going to end today. We are going to continue to do the operation. We’ll come back unannounced again. We want to reclaim this place from the zama zamas,” said community safety, security and liaison MEC Jackie Macie.
Residents are hoping the raid will bring about change.
“The town is too small to employ everyone but it’s frustrating to see foreigners with expensive tools making money from our soil,” said another resident.
“We tried to chase them away but they returned heavily armed,” the resident said.
DA councillor in Thaba Chweu, Comfort Sibiya, said in Sabie, the community has faced a water contamination crisis.
He said illegal mining activities were carried out without any regard for environmental regulations. “Many rural communities, like Sabie, depend on natural water sources. Illegal mining operations often lead to the release of substances like mercury, arsenic and cyanide, used in the extraction processes.
“The zama zamas are well-armed and informed, making it difficult for law enforcement to combat them effectively. They operate in full view of the public and local police,” he said.
Thaba Chweu Local Municipality spokesperson Themba Sibiya acknowledged the community’s concerns.
“Gunfire rings out at night, disturbing the peace. Our biggest concern, however, is the chemicals they use, which could contaminate water sources.
“A multi-sectoral approach is needed to address this issue, but the miners always seem to regroup after officials leave.”
Tourism operators in the iconic gold-mining heritage town downplayed claims that the area is losing its appeal.
Pilgrim’s Rest is linked to the Panorama Route, which connects to towns such as Sabie, Graskop, and the northern areas of Matibidi, Leroro and Moremela.
Tourism operators, represented by the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and
Tourism (KLCBT), acknowledge concerns about the negative image that illegal mining might project.
“There is no decline in Pilgrim’s Rest. In fact, we’ve seen a growth trajectory in terms of tourism,” said KLCBT chief operating officer Linda Grimbeek.
She admitted the town faced challenges when the local gold mine closed years ago.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency said it will continue working with the police to keep the town safe.
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