Pretoria: The government is ramping up intelligence-driven operations to tackle illegal mining activities across Gauteng, focusing on communities in the East and West Rand, as announced by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. He addressed the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) about the pressing issue of illegal mining in the Gugulethu and Sporong informal settlements in Randfontein.
According to South African Government News Agency, Mashatile emphasized that illegal mining presents significant risks to communities and the economy, often intertwining with transnational criminal networks, illicit financial flows, undocumented migration, and the spread of illegal firearms. To combat these threats, the government is intensifying operations under initiatives like Operation Vala Umgodi. This strategy involves deploying specialized units, disrupting supply chains, apprehending perpetrators and syndicate leaders, and seizing equipment and contraband, all in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure convictions.
The coordinated effort includes the South African Police Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and the Department of Home Affairs. Mashatile also highlighted the government's initiatives to counter the infiltration of illegal and counterfeit goods, which undermine jobs and industrial competitiveness, through the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme. The programme targets sectors with significant revenue losses and entrenched syndicate activities, such as illegal mining and fuel smuggling.
Further, the South African National Defence Force has been deployed to support police operations aimed at curbing illegal mining and gang-related violence. This deployment boosts NATJOINTS coordination and strengthens ongoing monitoring to prevent a resurgence of criminal activities. The President's directive reflects the government's resolve to tackle these urgent challenges, with Mashatile expressing gratitude for the President's leadership.
In addressing corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mashatile stated that the government is bolstering measures to detect and prevent corrupt practices. Central to the government's response to crime and corruption is the Anti-Corruption Task Team, established in 2010 to investigate high-level graft. The rollout of technology-driven case management systems also aims to minimize manual interference and vulnerabilities.
Operational reforms have been implemented to reduce corruption opportunities, including crime scene management improvements, enhanced investigative capacity, and the creation of specialized units like the Anti-Gang Unit and Economic Infrastructure Task Teams. To encourage reporting, SAPS has enhanced whistle-blower protection through National Instruction 18 of 2019, facilitating safe reporting channels.
Oversight bodies such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the Public Protector of South Africa, and the Auditor-General are actively involved in detecting corruption. SAPS is also strengthening internal detection mechanisms through vetting and screening of priority personnel, supported by lifestyle reviews and financial disclosure analyses. Forensic audits and criminal investigations will follow when serious allegations arise, leading to prosecutions for those found guilty.
To bolster policing capacity, the President announced the recruitment of 5,500 additional police officers in the State of the Nation Address last month, alongside stronger enforcement of firearm legislation. Additionally, the President has tasked the Acting Minister of Police and the National Commissioner with establishing a special task team to investigate criminality involving senior SAPS members, following the interim findings of the Madlanga Commission.