N12 in Flames: Protest Over Illegal Mining Blocks Major Gauteng Route

Tyres ablaze, spike strips on the tarmac, and chaos on the N12 as Springs residents vent frustration

If you were planning to cruise along the N12 near Springs this Tuesday, your trip likely hit a dead end, quite literally. Thick smoke from burning tyres and a scattering of makeshift spike strips brought traffic to a screeching halt, leaving drivers stranded and scrambling for alternate routes.

It wasn’t just another morning commute gone wrong. The chaos is reportedly tied to growing tensions over illegal mining operations in the area, a simmering crisis now erupting onto Gauteng’s roads.

Standoff on the Highway

The disruption began between Kingsway Avenue and Putfontein Road, a busy stretch of the N12 that connects eastern Gauteng to Johannesburg. By the time police arrived, rocks, debris, and spikes had turned the road into a warzone.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni, the unrest is a direct result of intensified operations against illegal miners, often referred to locally as zama zamas. Police forces clamping down on illicit mining activities have met resistance from local networks who see these crackdowns as both a threat and a provocation.

“Fighting illegal miners has closed off the roadway,” confirmed city spokesperson Katlego Mphahlele. The SAPS has requested backup from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) to stabilise the situation.

Traffic Nightmare: East Clear, West Stuck

The protest initially shut down all six lanes, bringing eastbound and westbound traffic to a complete stop. By midday, routes heading east toward Mpumalanga had been reopened, but the lanes heading west to Johannesburg remain inaccessible.

Motorists are being rerouted through Snake Road, a less-trafficked but now heavily congested detour.

A Brewing Crisis Over Zama Zamas

The N12 protest is more than just a traffic inconvenience. It reflects the deeper issues plaguing Gauteng’s outer towns: rampant illegal mining, security threats to residents, and slow responses from national and local authorities.

Communities near old mines have long complained about the dangers posed by underground blasting and turf wars between illegal mining syndicates. Residents fear for their lives and property, while law enforcement is often outgunned or outnumbered.

Earlier this year, nearby areas like Benoni and Brakpan also reported gunfights and tremors caused by zama zamas events that have stoked widespread anger and calls for intervention.

Locals React: ‘We’re Tired of Being Ignored’

Social media lit up with reactions as videos and photos of the burning highway went viral.

“We pay taxes, and yet we’re dodging spikes on the highway like it’s an action movie,” wrote one X user.

Another posted:

“This isn’t just about mining. It’s about the government failing to protect communities. No one feels safe anymore.”

Meanwhile, others expressed sympathy for those trapped in traffic or late for work. One user summed it up:

“South Africans are stuck, literally and figuratively.”

What’s Next?

The City of Ekurhuleni says this is a developing situation, with law enforcement still working to clear the area and prevent further escalation.

But with tensions high, the protest signals that frustration with unchecked illegal activity — and sluggish state response is reaching boiling point.

Until then, if you’re headed west from Springs, best to avoid the N12 altogether. And maybe pack a bit more patience, Gauteng’s highways are no longer just about getting from A to B. They’re becoming the new frontline of protest.

{Source: The Citizen}

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