Gauteng police arrests more than four hundred suspects during operation Vala Umgodi in the past two months

The multidisciplinary and disruptive Operation Vala Umgodi is yielding positive results in Gauteng as 420 illegal miners have been arrested from the 1st of December 2024 to the 11 of February 2025. These suspects were also charged with violent crimes that include attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms, possession of explosives, and dealing in drugs.

The South African Police Service’ specialised units which include Tactical Response Team, National Intervention Unit, Public Order Police and Visible Policing as well as Crime Intelligence and Criminal Record & Crime Scene Management have been working in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy as well as other stakeholders to disrupt and dismantle illegal mining activities in the province.

In ensuring that such illegal activities do not resurface, the team seizes the equipment used by the illegal miners and demolish illegal structures that are harbouring the illegal miners.

In the recent Operation Vala Umgodi, conducted in Carletonville on Saturday, the 8th of February 2025, police recovered four unlicensed firearms and scores of ammunition. Two vehicles that are suspected to be used for illegal mining were also seized.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, commended the good work conducted by the multidisciplinary Operation Vala Umgodi team. “I am pleased with the incredible collaboration on the Operation Vala Umgodi. The combined team efforts are yielding fantastic results. We will continue with these disruptive illegal mining operations as long as there are still people who are partaking in illegal mining,” said Lieutenant General Mthombeni.

The police have also arrested over 10 000 illegal immigrants during various operations in the province in order to reduce the influx of illegal immigrants in Gauteng Province.