Zama Zamas laugh at Mantashe's "war"

In the picturesque valley between the Witwatersberg and Magaliesberg, a different kind of prospecting is taking place.

- Editor

While the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, thunderously declares to Parliament that illegal mining is a "war being waged against the country" and a "criminal activity that must be eradicated by all means necessary", the front lines in Skeerpoort tell a story of police paralysis and criminal audacity.Just over two years ago, in February 2024, the North West police celebrated what they called a "massive" success. Under the leadership of then-Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, a multidisciplinary raid involving units like the Special Task Force and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) resulted in 94 arrests and the seizure of 139 generators valued at R1.3 million. Kwena lauded his team's "dedication and teamwork," claiming the operation had successfully foiled a major syndicate.

Today, those claims of "success" ring hollow. The Zama Zamas have not only returned to the Khutso Naketsi Mega Farm; they have occupied the high ground. While they sit on the hillsides digging gold and reportedly eating and drinking in plain sight with local folk, the current police leadership appears to be looking elsewhere.

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