Four suspected illegal miners nabbed in Pongola

Some of the gold bearing material discovered at an illegal mining operation in Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal on 21 November 2024.

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Four suspected illegal miners have been arrested at a mine in Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The suspects were found in possession of gold-bearing material worth over R3 million and mining equipment.

Provincial police spokesperson Robert Neshiunda says, “Police operationalised intelligence about illicit mining activities in the area and upon arrival at the scene, the four suspected illegal miners were caught in the act of processing gold. They were found with mining equipment including explosives.”

He adds: “The suspects, whose ages range between 27 and 40 years old, are due to appear in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 22 November 2024.”

#sapsKZN The Operation Vala Umgodi police officers in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested four suspects who were found in possession of gold-bearing material worth over R3 million at a mine in Ntumbane, Pongola on 21/11. The suspects were found with mining equipment including explosives.… pic.twitter.com/zBijBtj7xQ

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) November 22, 2024

Calls to formalise small-scale & artisanal mining

The Portfolio Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources says there is a need for artisanal mining and small-scale mining to be formalised and integrated into the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations Act.

The committee’s chairperson Mikateko Mahlaule says some abandoned mines have resources that can be formally used by government to create job opportunities.

He says formalising small-scale mining and training artisanal miners would prevent miners from conducting illegal mining operations at abandoned mines.

“We ought not to focus on closing the mines without training artisanal miners and small-scale miners to formalise this sector because it’s a very important sector. If you close a mine which still has resources and there are people who are interested in mining, but you are not enabling them, it’s a problem because that resource can be used by a government to create jobs,” says Mahlaule.