By Priya Ranchod
A large-scale multi-agency operation targeting illegal mining activities in Gauteng has led to the arrest of 121 suspected illegal miners and the recovery of five firearms in the Fochville policing precinct.
The arrests were made on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, during Operation Prosper/Karabo, conducted in Mphahla Village. The operation brought together members of SAPS Gauteng, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Department of Home Affairs immigration officers, and Sibanye-Stillwater's tactical security team.
Gauteng SAPS Provincial spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said the operation began in the early hours of the morning.
"The operation commenced at 03:00 on 29 September 2026, with SANDF members cordoning off the operational area before police and the mine's tactical security team moved in to conduct operations," she said.
Authorities recovered five firearms during the operation, including three pistols, an AK-47 rifle and a homemade pistol, along with ammunition. Illegal mining equipment, including phendukas, gas cylinders and gold-bearing material, was also seized.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities and related criminality across the province.
Nevhuhulwi said Operation Prosper continues to target illegal mining operations and associated crimes in Gauteng, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the sector.
The arrests and seizures underscore the continued commitment of law enforcement and security partners to combating illegal mining and restoring safety in affected communities.
