KRUGERSDORP, South Africa — Police have arrested 92 people and confiscated a package of explosives, two unlicensed firearms, and illegal mining tools during an intelligence-driven operation in West Village, Krugersdorp, authorities said Monday.
The operation forms part of Operation Prosper, an ongoing law enforcement effort to clamp down on illegal mining in the West Rand, where abandoned and disused mining sites have become a focus of police activity.
According to Gauteng police colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the suspects’ nationalities are still being established, with the Department of Home Affairs set to assist in verifying their identities and immigration status.
“All the arrested people will be subjected to immigration verification by the Department of Home Affairs,” Nevhuhulwi said. “All of them who are arrested here will be charged with suspected illegal mining; some of them who will be found to be illegally in the country will be charged with contravening the Illegal Immigration Act.”
The raid comes as law enforcement efforts intensify across the West Rand, a region scarred by numerous abandoned and disused mining sites that have long attracted illegal miners known locally as zama zamas. These operations often involve dangerous underground activity, environmental degradation, and links to organized crime.
Police said the seizure of explosives and unlicensed firearms underscores the security risks associated with illegal mining operations, which frequently involve the use of hazardous materials and armed protection of mining sites.
Operation Prosper is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with authorities promising further arrests and disruptions to illegal mining networks.
Police are expected to provide further details on the arrests and when the suspects will appear in court. The 92 detained individuals remain in custody pending formal charges and immigration verification.
The Department of Home Affairs has not yet commented on the scale of potential immigration violations among those arrested.
Community members in Krugersdorp have previously raised concerns about illegal mining activity in the area, citing safety risks, noise, and environmental damage. Law enforcement officials have urged residents to report suspicious activity as operations continue.
