South African security forces have detained nearly 1,000 undocumented migrants in a major clampdown on illegal gold mining in Mpumalanga Province.
The coordinated operation, which began early in the week, targeted illicit mining activities around Barberton, a town near the borders with Eswatini and Mozambique.
Police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli confirmed the arrests on Friday, saying more miners are likely to be apprehended as others remain hidden in underground tunnels.
“As soon as they resurface, they are being taken into custody,” Mdhluli said, describing the joint effort between law enforcement and private security attached to Barberton Mines.
The Sheba Mine, once on the brink of closure due to declining profitability and job cuts, was at the center of the illegal mining network.
Barberton Mines, in a statement, condemned the activity, noting it had contributed to the mine’s earlier financial struggles.
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“Illegal mining has been thriving underground, draining resources and compromising safety,” the company said.
“This intervention is necessary to restore order and protect legitimate operations.”
No injuries have been reported so far, but the memory of last year’s disaster in Stilfontein—where nearly 90 illegal miners died before police sealed shafts—still looms large.
As with previous busts, security forces deployed an encirclement strategy, cutting off food and supplies to force the miners out. Authorities have pledged to maintain strict surveillance in the area to prevent a resurgence of illegal mining.
The arrests highlight South Africa’s ongoing struggle with illegal mining, which has become a multibillion-rand underground economy linked to organized crime and cross-border smuggling.