Gugulethu residents warned against illegal mining

Illegal mining suspects arrested during a police operation.

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has urged residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs not to engage in illegal mining activities as it poses a serious danger. This comes after the alleged discovery of gold particles in a kraal by locals.

Scores of residents have been digging day and night since last week hoping to strike gold.

“ The department reiterates that any mining activity conducted without any permits or mining rights as prescribed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is unlawful and constitutes a criminal offence. Illegal mining endangers communities, threatens lives and harms the environment,” says spokesperson for the department Lerato Ntsolo.

Meanwhile, the City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng earlier issued a stern warning to residents of about the dangers of illegal mining.

City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe says they are on a fact-finding mission to track the kingpins who are at the helm of this operation.

“ This is a national problem, it’s just that here, we’ve never seen it at a scale in an open public like this but the message we are sending to the public or anyone who might have ideas like this is that we are not going to tolerate this and yes we did take time in terms of intervention but it was in the interest of public safety. But now we do know and with experience of the operation that is coming, we will be able to stop an operation like this.”