Police in Limpopo have admitted that the battle against illegal mining is far from over.
Lately the province has become the happy hunting ground for illegal miners, known locally as Zama Zamas.
A number of mining towns have turned into notorious hotspots for illegal mining activities.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Masekela Magoro told Sunday World: “The Burgersfort area in Sekhukhune District is leading in terms of chrome mining.”
Illegal mining in Limpopo remains a persistent challenge. Since the inception of the Vala Umgodi operation, approximately 677 suspects have been convicted, demonstrating ongoing enforcement efforts,” Magoro said.
Huge mineral deposits
He added: “The province’s abundant mineral deposits, particularly chrome and gold, attract illegal miners, resulting in widespread activity that is difficult to control. Despite law enforcement actions, illegal mining persists due to the high profitability and the involvement of organized criminal networks.”
Magoro said that apart from a number of areas such as Marula, Modikwa Twickenham, Atok and other mines around the Burgersfort area, there are other significant hotspots across the province such as Mokopane, Malamulele and Tzaneen in the Waterberg and Mopani districts, among others.
“These sites are characterized by ongoing illegal extraction, often resulting in environmental degradation and legal conflicts,” added Magoro.
On whether the province’s law enforcement is winning against these illegal mining practices, Magoro said: “While law enforcement agencies have achieved notable progress—evidenced by the high convictions previously cited, the battle against illegal mining is far from over. Illegal activities continue across numerous hotspots, and the scale of the problem remains substantial. The convictions reflect ongoing enforcement efforts but do not indicate complete success in eliminating illegal mining activities.”
The battle continues
Magoro said authorities are actively combating these activities. “Illegal miners however adapt and continue their operations. The number of convictions demonstrates a committed enforcement response; nonetheless, the widespread nature of illegal mining indicates that Limpopo still faces significant challenges in fully controlling these criminal enterprises.”
