Gold fever persists as Gugulethu residents dig at Springs kraal

Residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement searching for gold at a kraal

Residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs, east of Johannesburg, are continuing their search for gold at a kraal that has allegedly been hijacked by locals following the discovery of gold particles in the area.

The settlement has been flooded with residents eager and desperate to strike gold since last week.

It is alleged that extortionists have seized the opportunity and started charging residents an entry fee at the kraal gate, driven by demand from the black market.

The City of Ekurhuleni says it is on a mission to track the kingpins behind the operation, which threatens the country’s mineral resources.

Locals say unemployment and the rising cost of living have forced them to resort to illegal mining, and they are not planning to stop anytime soon as they have families to support.

The Ekurhuleni municipality says it is working on putting together a NATJOINTS operation, as it is alleged that some residents in the area are heavily armed.

WATCH | Scores of Gugulethu informal settlement residents in Springs on Gauteng’s East Rand have continued searching for gold at a kraal in hopes of improving their fortunes. It is alleged that extortionists are exploiting the situation by charging residents to dig. pic.twitter.com/lYUu8Kzhny

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 16, 2026