North West Community Safety and Transport MEC Wessels Morweng commented on the issue during his 2025/26 departmental budget vote address after a major illegal mining operation in Stilfontein revealed the scale and persistence of the illicit activity in areas presumed to be secure and sealed off.

The operation uncovered a staggering 1,831 illegal miners, the vast majority of 99% being undocumented foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Lesotho, and a few from Pakistan. 78 bodies of deceased illegal miners were retrieved from underground in disused shafts.

Morweng pointed specifically to the infamous “Three Thousand Vertical Dark Margaret” and Shaft 11 as key examples.

“The rubble of broken concrete slabs in and around the entrance of the infamous three thousand vertical dark Margaret and shaft 11 is a testimony that it was indeed a rehabilitated mine.”

He said the approximately R8 million operation in Stilfontein was jointly funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and a Klerksdorp-based mining company. While hailed as a major enforcement success, Morweng was quick to caution that its impact was limited.

He said although illegal mining activity has declined in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, it has since resurfaced in Bojanala and parts of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

He raised concerns about the spread of illegal mining into previously unaffected areas, like in Moses Kotane, Mmasebudule in Ramotshere Moiloa municipality and Ottoshoop outside Mahikeng.

Addressing arguments often made in defence of illegal mining, he firmly rejected the notion that those involved are simply desperate individuals trying to survive in a harsh economy.

Statistics tell a different story to those defending illicit mining, who often point to the fragile economy and argue that those involved are merely trying to survive and support their families under difficult circumstances, he said.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg