Frustrated residents of Tlhatlaganyane, a community near Sun City, have issued a desperate plea to authorities to intensify operations against rampant illegal mining, which they say has created an “atmosphere of terror” and put their lives in danger.
The calls were made during a Ministerial Crime Prevention Imbizo on illegal mining and crime, led by Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo. The public gathering is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address crime in the area, which has been identified as a hotspot for illicit mining activities.
The community’s fears are rooted in recent violence. Earlier in August, five men were shot and killed near a local open-cast mine in a motive believed to be a turf war over small-scale mining operations.
During the emotionally charged imbizo, residents demanded transparency and decisive action. One resident’s plea highlighted the community’s primary demand: a full report on the “Valumbo campaign” and a clear list from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) of all legally operating mines.
“We need the DMRE to supply us with all the information of all the mining houses that are mining here legally and make sure that all illegal sites are closed,” the resident said. “It’s been long. Can they please stop this?”
The community clarified that their opposition is not to mining itself, but to the illegal and dangerous nature of the current operations. “We’re not saying the people who are mining cannot do it legally. If they do it legally, we are happy. We will support them as the owners of the land,” the resident added.
Another community member raised allegations of local collusion, stating, “The one who is not chief called the foreigners to come and dare in our area for illegal mining. I have reported this for several times.”
Provincial authorities confirmed the severity of the situation. The Department of Community Safety has pointed to the area as one of the province’s key hotspots for illegal mining, driven by the presence of chrome deposits.
“That is why we are finding these problems because it’s very easy for chrome to be mined,” a government representative acknowledged at the imbizo. “That as it may be, this chrome… people cannot take advantage of it. It remains the product of the people. It must assist the people. That is why we are here as government.”
In response, national police officials promised a crackdown. A police representative hinted at a concrete plan to dismantle the illegal operations, noting that the so-called zama zamas (illegal miners) were aware of the police presence.
“We talked about what should happen. You know, it might get you in your way if you are one of the zama zamas, but we’ve got a plan,” the official said. “They knew that I was coming here and you can see it’s quiet… So we have a plan and then we’ll put that plan in action.”
Despite these assurances, residents of Tlhatlaganyane say they are living in fear, hoping that the increased law enforcement presence and the promises made at the imbizo will finally bring an end to the violence and instability plaguing their community.
