Tlhatlaganyane residents in NW urge action on illegal mining – SABC News
Residents of Tlhatlaganyane near Sun City, in the North West, have pleaded with authorities to ramp up their operations to curb illegal mining in their area.
#sapsHQ [HAPPENING NOW]
Tension and hope fill Tlhatlhaganyane Village near Sun City in the North West as crowds gather, men, women & youth ready to speak out on #illegalmining, poverty & loss.DM Dr Polly Boshielo, Lt Gen Asaneng & Maj Gen Scott head to the sites to see the… pic.twitter.com/nGxf0XUvKP
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 10, 2025
Deputy Police Minister, Dr Polly Boshielo led a Ministerial Crime Prevention Imbizo on illegal mining and crime in the area. The imbizo is part of ongoing efforts to combat crime in the area.
Earlier in August, five men were shot and killed near an open cast mine in a motive believed to be a turf war over small scale mining operations in the area.
RELATED VIDEO | Illegal mining is on the rise in South Africa
Illegal mining and its aftermath became a point of contention at the crime prevention imbizo. Residents pleaded with the authorities to deal with illegal mining activities that put their lives in danger
“We need a report for the Vala Umgodi campaign so that we can know how far we are. We need the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to supply us with all the information of all the mining operations that are mining illegally and make sure that all illegal mines are closed and it is not happening anymore so that they can ensure that all community members are safe and protected,” says a resident.
“It’s been long. Can they please stop this. We are not saying people who are mining cannot do it legally. If they do it legally, we are happy and we will support them as the owners of the land,” adds another resident.
“Look at where we are now. Our land is gone. The one who is not chief called the foreigners to come and dig here for illegal mining. I have reported this several times,” says another resident.
#sapsHQ [HAPPENING NOW] As the convoy moved deeper into Tlhatlhaganyane’s #illegalmining area, an uneasy silence followed. The miners knew we were coming, they watched from a distance, hidden, alert.
Deputy Minister Dr Polly Boshielo, Major Gen Asaneng, Maj Gen Scott, and MEC… pic.twitter.com/aEvdvPOsG3
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 10, 2025
“It is in this area of Moses Motane and Ramotshere Moiloa in Zeerust where there is chrome. That’s where we are finding these problems because it is very easy for chrome to be mined but be that as it may, people cannot take advantage of it. It is a product for the people. It must assist people. That’s why we are here as government,” says North West MEC for Community Safety, Wessels Morweng.
This while, the Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo promised to clamp down on illegal operations in the area.
“We talked about what should happen. You know it might get in your way if you are one of the Zama Zamas. You can see that they are there watching at us. They knew that I was coming here and you can see it’s quiet. They told me it’s very busy but it’s quite today because they knew I was coming here. So, we have a plan and we will put that plan in action,” says Boshielo.
#sapsHQ [HAPPENING NOW] Led by Acting Provincial Commissioner Major Gen Asaneng, Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo, Major General Scott, and North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Mr Wessels Morweng, the delegation has arrived at one of the… pic.twitter.com/EpaimP61Hm
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 10, 2025
The residents hope that the presence of law enforcement and the imbizo will assist to lift the general atmosphere of terror in their area.
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