Lesufi welcomes SANDF deployment to stamp out illegal mining in Gauteng
Premier Panyaza Lesufi backs “Boots on the Ground” to end Zama Zama violence
Speaking during the State of the Province Address at Nasrec in Johannesburg, Lesufi made it clear that decisive action is already underway.
“We are pleased that these soldiers have already arrived in our province,” said the Premier.
Illegal mining in Gauteng has reached intolerable levels, severely disrupting communities and threatening lives. In January 2026 alone, more than 600 families, including women and children, were forced to flee their homes due to violence, intimidation and attacks carried out by what Lesufi described as “marauding gangsters.”
The crisis spans several key areas of the province, including the West Rand, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Sedibeng Districts. Communities in these regions have faced increasing instability as heavily armed Zama Zamas compete for control of mining sites.
“Dangerous syndicates use high calibre weapons such as AK 47s to conduct hostile takeovers of illegal mining sites. Government will put a stop to this terror and protect law abiding residents of this province,” said the Premier.
The scale of weaponry involved highlights the organised and militarised nature of illegal mining networks operating in Gauteng. Lesufi pointed to a recent joint operation in the West Rand as evidence that government is intensifying its response.
“This was followed by a joint operation where 75 AK47 rifles and rounds of ammunition were recovered. This municipality remains the biggest beneficiary of the recently announced deployment of the SANDF.”
The recovery of 75 assault rifles underscores the seriousness of the threat and the need for coordinated enforcement involving the military, police and other law enforcement agencies.
With SANDF boots now on the ground, the provincial government is signalling a firm commitment to dismantling illegal mining syndicates and restoring safety in affected communities. The deployment represents one of the most robust interventions yet aimed at reclaiming mining areas from criminal control and protecting residents from further violence.
For many in Gauteng, this marks a turning point in the fight against illegal mining and the armed groups that have destabilised entire neighbourhoods.
