Gauteng Legislature supports SANDF's deployment to combat illegal mining

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature has welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to Gauteng, describing the move as a decisive turning point in the fight against illegal mining and violent criminal syndicates operating in the province.

Portfolio Committee on Community Safety says the Committee supports President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement to deploy the SANDF to Gauteng and other affected parts of the country to combat illegal mining and the activities of so-called zama zamas.

The intervention was announced during the State of the Nation Address in Parliament last week.

The Committee said the move “underscores the gravity of the crisis and the urgent necessity for a coordinated, robust response to dismantle highly organised criminal syndicates that have terrorised communities and undermined the rule of law.”

According to the Committee, illegal mining has had a devastating impact on communities across Gauteng.

During a recent unannounced oversight visit to the Bekkersdal Police Station, members received what they described as deeply disturbing reports of zama zamas intimidating residents, committing violent crimes and holding entire communities hostage through fear.

“Equally alarming are reports that more than 600 families were allegedly forced to flee their homes in Randfontein as a result of escalating violence linked to illegal mining activities, with displaced residents compelled to seek refuge in community halls,” the Committee stated.

The Committee stressed that illegal mining is far from a minor offence.

“It is an entrenched, organised criminal enterprise that endangers lives, destroys infrastructure, destabilises communities and erodes public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens,” the Committee said.

It further noted that conventional policing alone has proven inadequate in tackling the problem.

“The Committee has consistently maintained that conventional policing measures alone are insufficient to address this threat. A more aggressive, integrated, multi-agency approach is required to decisively confront and eradicate this criminal menace.”

In this context, the Committee described the SANDF deployment as “a critical and long-overdue intervention, one that the Committee has repeatedly recommended.”

The Committee expressed confidence that the military’s involvement would bolster law enforcement operations and help restore order in affected areas.

“The Committee is confident that this decisive action will significantly strengthen law-enforcement operations, restore safety and stability in affected areas as well as to send a clear and unequivocal message that criminality will not be tolerated in Gauteng."

The Committee said it would closely monitor the implementation and impact of the SANDF deployment and remains committed to working with all spheres of government to ensure communities can live free from fear, violence and intimidation.

IOL News