Residents of Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs continue with their illegal mining activities despite several raids by police.

• Residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement continue to engage in illegal gold mining despite repeated police raids and equipment confiscations.
• Miners claim to earn up to R1 800 a day, stating that the work is their sole source of income amid high unemployment.
• Community members, including women and children, adapt tactics to evade arrest, fearing intensified crackdowns under Operation Prosper.

Residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs have adopted new strategies to evade arrest as the Springs gold rush continues unabated.

Despite repeated police raids and equipment confiscations, illegal mining remains a primary source of income for many in the area.

On Thursday morning, News24 observed groups of residents, equipped with spades, pickaxes, plastic buckets, generators, and makeshift tools, making their way to a site near a cattle kraal where digging operations are ongoing.

The site, located near an old mining dump, is believed to contain some gold deposits.

The scene was bustling with activity, as women of all ages, some accompanied by young children, worked alongside the men.

Women transported soil in buckets balanced on their heads, while others processed the material in search of gold. Sesotho music blared from speaker boxes, creating a lively atmosphere, while some men smoked dagga and sipped soft drinks as they worked.

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Mapula Motseki, a mother of three, explained the challenges they face due to frequent police raids.

“We are ready to run away if the police arrive,” she said. “We have lost many tools to the police. They come here weekly, but we are not deterred. We are here to fend for our children.”

Residents claimed they can earn over R1 800 daily, depending on the amount of gold processed.

For many, illegal mining has become their sole means of survival. Lerato Mokone, a Lesotho national, turned to mining after failing to find employment.

“Making gold is the only job I know. This is my life. I am not going to quit. I can’t find employment back home or here,” he said, adding that he supports his wife and two children through this work.

Similarly, Thabo Nhlapo from Soshanguve, who has been mining since 2020, shared how the income has transformed his life.

“I have achieved many things with this money. My mother and child do not go to bed hungry. I have even built them a house through illegal mining,” he said

Joseph Makua from Kwaggafontein in Mpumalanga echoed these sentiments.

“I saw others making money and joined them. I have never looked back. This job is looking after me. It may look dirty, but the money we make isn’t,” he said.

Despite their determination, miners remain wary of law enforcement, particularly the military.

They recalled Operation Prosper, a joint initiative by the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service aimed at curbing illegal mining and related crimes.

“Soldiers came here once. When we saw them, we ran for our lives. They didn’t take anything, but we fear them the most,” said Martha Motloung.

The Springs gold rush gained widespread attention two months ago when media reports revealed that residents had turned two cattle kraals into active mining sites.

Despite government warnings and enforcement efforts, the activity has persisted and, in some cases, intensified.

Authorities have raised concerns about illegal mining syndicates, environmental damage, and safety risks.

City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe confirmed that they have conducted operations in the settlement to address the resurgence of illegal mining activities.

READ | Illegal miners invade cattle kraals in Ekurhuleni ‘gold rush’

“The operation resulted in the immediate halt of operations and the seizure of mining equipment. The City will maintain enforcement visibility in the area, working in coordination with the South African Police Service, to ensure that these unlawful activities do not re-establish themselves,” Mbengashe said.

He added that while decisive enforcement is necessary, “it is not sufficient on its own”.

“Illegal mining is sustained by organised criminal networks and deeper socioeconomic pressures.”

The city called for a long-term and durable solution that requires a coordinated Intergovernmental response that targets syndicates across the illicit value chains that sustain the economy of illegal mining, targeting financiers, syndicates, and cross-border networks.