South Africa deploys military to tackle illegal mining

South Africa’s military is set to take charge in combating illegal mining. The country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa authorized the deployment of the army to assist in a nationwide operation.

Impacts of illegal mining in SA

Illegal mining in South Africa is estimated to cost the country billions of dollars each year. The activity undermines the formal mining sector, leading to financial losses for mining companies, as well as lost export earnings, taxes, and royalties for the country.

The Minerals Council South Africa estimates that illegal mining costs legally operating mines as much as US $376 million annually. This not only affects the profitability of mining companies but also hampers the growth and development of the formal mining sector.

The informal mining sector, often referred to as “zama zamas,” is driven by factors such as poverty, unemployment, and crime. Informal miners risk their lives working in dangerous conditions in disused mines and rudimentary tunnels, without proper safety measures. The recent gas explosion in Welkom highlights the serious safety risks associated with illegal mining.

The president’s order will see about 3,300 army personnel partnering with police in a dubbed “an intensified anti-criminality operation against illegal mining across all provinces”. The nationwide operation is set to run until April 2024, indicating a sustained effort to address the issue comprehensively.

This is not the first time the president has used the military in such operations, as similar measures were taken in 2019 to address gang violence in the Western Cape province. The rise of informal mining has been linked to an increase in the gang violence and turf wars as individuals compete for lucrative dig sites. This poses not only a security risk but also a challenge to maintaining law and order in affected areas.