By: Sbongile Sokela
In a decisive move against illegal mining, the South African Police Service (SAPS) launched Operation Vala Umgodi on Tuesday, 22 April 2025, targeting the Springs policing precinct in the Ekurhuleni District.
The operation led to the arrest of one illegal immigrant and the seizure of various mining tools and equipment, including pangas, motors with gearboxes, a welding machine, wheelbarrow, shovels, water pumps, and buckets fitted with chains.
This strategic intervention underscores the SAPS’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on illicit mining, safeguard public safety, and protect local communities. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to disrupting and dismantling illegal mining operations across the region.
