Army called in: Lesufi backs SANDF deployment to crush illegal mining in Gauteng

A tougher line against the zama zama economy

In a province scarred by abandoned mine shafts and rising gang violence, the message from government this week was blunt: enough is enough.

Following Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the South African Police Service in clamping down on illegal mining syndicates.

The move signals a significant escalation in the fight against what leaders now openly describe as organised criminal networks embedded in Gauteng’s abandoned gold fields.

From SONA promise to boots on the ground

During his 2026 address to the nation, Ramaphosa framed organised crime as one of South Africa’s most immediate threats, not just to safety, but to democracy and economic stability.

Illegal mining, particularly in Gauteng and parts of the Western Cape, was singled out as a major concern. The solution? Reinforce police operations with military support.

For Lesufi, this wasn’t just symbolic.

In a statement on Friday, he described the deployment as decisive and necessary, calling illegal mining a “serious criminal enterprise” that endangers communities, exploits vulnerable people and damages infrastructure and the environment.

Life in the shadow of abandoned shafts

In areas like Riverlea, Krugersdorp and parts of Ekurhuleni, residents have long complained about living alongside unsafe, unrehabilitated mining sites.

Illegal miners commonly known as zama zamas operate in both abandoned and active shafts. While some are desperate informal miners trying to survive, authorities say many operate under tightly controlled criminal syndicates.

The consequences have been severe:

• Violent turf wars

• Intimidation of residents

• Shootouts with police

• Environmental destruction

• Economic losses running into billions

For communities, it’s not an abstract policy debate. It’s about safety.

On local Facebook groups and community WhatsApp chats, residents often share videos of gunfire at night, suspicious activity near shafts and fears about children walking past unsecured mining entrances.

Organised crime in disguise

Government has increasingly moved away from describing illegal mining as a poverty-driven issue alone. Officials now emphasise its links to broader organised crime networks.

Gold extracted illegally is often smuggled into international markets. The trade feeds money laundering operations and overlaps with other criminal enterprises.

By deploying the SANDF, government is signalling that this is no longer being treated as a routine policing problem but as a coordinated national security threat.

Lesufi said joint SANDF and SAPS operations would improve coordination and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to dismantle networks behind the mining operations.

A political and public balancing act

The deployment has sparked mixed reactions.

Some South Africans applaud the tougher stance, arguing that heavily armed syndicates require extraordinary measures. Others question whether military involvement is a sustainable long-term solution or a short-term show of force.

There’s also a humanitarian dimension. Many zama zamas are undocumented migrants or economically marginalised individuals drawn into dangerous work by poverty. Critics argue enforcement must be paired with economic alternatives and proper mine rehabilitation.

Still, for residents who feel abandoned by years of inaction, visible intervention brings relief.

What success would look like

Lesufi has pledged full provincial cooperation with national government, law enforcement agencies and municipalities to ensure the deployment succeeds.

But success will be measured on the ground:

• Fewer shootings

• Secured and rehabilitated mine shafts

• Disrupted syndicates

• Restored public confidence

Gauteng remains South Africa’s economic heartland. Illegal mining threatens not just safety, but investor confidence and environmental sustainability.

As Lesufi put it, residents deserve to live in safe communities free from criminality.

Now, with the army stepping in, the province enters a new phase in its battle against the underground economy one that will test whether coordinated force can finally bring lasting stability to areas long trapped in the shadows of gold.

{Source: IOL}

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