Nationwide, VALA UMGODI operations led to the arrest of 1 733 suspects of different nationalities in the month of March 2025.
These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other crimes such as murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property.
SAPS members deployed in the seven provinces as part of OPERATION VALA UMGODI also prevent and combat crimes which are not directly related to illicit mining activities.
Amongst some of the items seized during VALA UMGODI operations in March include:
- 29 unlicensed firearms;
- 246 rounds of ammunition;
- 57 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks, trailers, and excavators
- 439 pendukas
Highlights of VALA UMGODI successes for the month of March 2025 include:
Free State: The collaboration between the SAPS and private security enabled the arrest of an employee at Kopanang Mine for conspiracy to commit crime; smuggling contraband goods for underground illegal miners. The 33-year-old male was searched, and four bottles of whiskey were found hidden inside his rescue pack. A case docket was subsequently opened at Vierfontein police station. The team also arrested two illegal miners aged 26 and 31 after they resurfaced at Beatrix Mine Shaft 1.
Gauteng: On 29 March 2025, the VALA UMGODI team deployed in Gauteng, arrested 55 suspects during an operation in Soul City informal settlement, Kagiso. The team also seized illegal mining equipment that included 155 pendukas as well as an unlicensed firearm, and ammunition.
KwaZulu-Natal: On Sunday, 16 March 2025 and Monday, 17 March 2025 police officers attached to Operation Vala Umgodi arrested two suspects aged between 27 and 33 years for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition at Esikhaleni. The team received information of suspects who had been planning to commit an armed robbery.
Limpopo: VALA UMGODI operations in Limpopo led to the arrest of 26 undocumented foreign nationals in different districts. Twenty-one suspects aged between 17 and 52 were arrested on Saturday, 29 March 2025, in Vhembe district for contravention of the Immigration Act in the Beitbridge policing area. Meanwhile, five illegal immigrants aged between 18 and 55 were also arrested at Mopani and Capricorn Districts.
Mpumalanga: On 16 March 2025, members deployed for OPERATION VALA UMGODI acted on a tip-off and arrested a 49-year-old suspect for money laundering and bribery. The team seized cash amounting to R1.2 million as well as Mozambican notes, found hidden inside his home.
Northern Cape: OPERATION VALA UMGODI, continues with increased visibility at identified mining shafts and dumps in Namakwa and Frances Baard Districts. The multi-disciplinary teams arrested 14 suspects for illegal mining, trespassing, and possession of drugs during operations that commenced on Monday, 24 March 2025.
North West: The ongoing VALA UMGODI operations continue to deal effectively with illicit mining and related crimes in the Bojanala Platinum District. The team confiscated two excavators and several other illegal mining equipment that were found abandoned at Bapong illegal mining site in the policing precinct of Mogwase on Thursday, 20 March 2025. The operation further led to the arrest of 10 individuals for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002, in Geelhoutpark, Rustenburg.
To date, more than 20 000 suspects have been arrested while over 600 firearms, that include imitation firearms (toy guns), and 14 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized through VALA UMGODI operations.