Police in Bapong have arrested three suspected illegal miners and confiscated 10 excavators along with additional mining equipment, in what authorities say is a major blow to illicit mining operations in the area.
The arrests come amid growing fears among residents, who say armed zama zamas have been roaming the community and intimidating locals. Many residents are living in fear, aware that ongoing illegal mining increases the risk of sinkholes threatening their homes.
Images of heavily armed miners recently circulated widely on social media, prompting an urgent police response. Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Ryno Naidoo said such posts worsen anxiety in the community, adding that they “create fear and have a dampening effect on residents.”
Officials are increasingly concerned about the scale and sophistication of the illegal mining activities. The significant investment in heavy machinery suggests the operations may be linked to larger criminal syndicates.
Police say investigations are ongoing as they work to identify the networks behind the illicit mining.