A group of illegal miners, rescued from abandoned shafts in Stilfontein, North West, have received suspended sentences after appearing in court. The miners, often referred to as zama zamas, were charged with illicit mining and violating the Immigration Act. Their case was heard at the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on December 31, where they faced serious legal repercussions for their actions.
Among the accused were 10 nationals from Lesotho, four from Mozambique, and five from Zimbabwe, with ages ranging between 20 and 43 years. The court imposed a sentence of six months’ imprisonment or a R12,000 fine for illegal mining activities. However, the sentences were wholly suspended for five years, contingent upon the condition that the miners would not be convicted of illegal mining during that time. Additionally, they received a three-month imprisonment sentence or a R6,000 fine for violating South Africa’s Immigration Act, with the same suspension condition.
Following the sentencing, the Department of Home Affairs carried out the deportation of the convicted individuals to their countries of origin on January 7, 2025. The illegal miners had been arrested at Margaret Shaft in November 2024, where they had resurfaced after their initial removal from the mines.
Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, spokesperson for the North West provincial police, provided an update, confirming that five more illegal miners had emerged from Margaret Shaft just days after the court hearing. This brings the total number of illegal miners arrested in the region between August 18, 2024, and January 7, 2025, to 1,567.
The ongoing problem of illegal mining in the area continues to strain law enforcement, but the authorities are committed to cracking down on the practice. Major General Patrick Asaneng, the acting provincial commissioner of police in North West, expressed his satisfaction with the recent convictions and deportations, emphasizing the success of the continued operation Vala Umgodi. This initiative, which targets illicit mining and other criminal activities, remains a key priority for the province’s law enforcement agencies.
The authorities have reiterated their determination to deal with the illegal mining problem decisively, stressing that the law will be applied rigorously to those found exploiting the country’s resources unlawfully. The latest arrests and deportations are part of a broader effort to curb the dangerous and often violent practice of illegal mining, which has affected various regions in South Africa.