South African Police Lay Siege on Illegal Miners

An estimated 560 illegal miners toiling in a series of disused mines in Orkney, North West, South Africa, have been forced to the surface after police operating under Operation Vala uMgodi blocked locals from delivering food and water to the miners.As previously reported, illegal miners in South Africa are referred to colloquially as 'Zama Zamas' meaning to 'take a chance' in IsiZulu. Zama Zamas typically earn meagerly, with the gold or precious metals they recover from the earth unable to be sold commercially and is instead sold to locals at a price just high enough to feed oneself and one's family..Operation Vala uMgodi, an operation conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in conjunction with the South African Defense Forces (SANDF), has yielded impressive results, albeit through the use of increasingly unconventional tactics.The use of these unconventional tactics was seen during a raid on Daggafontein mine dump in August. As security services arrived, Zama Zamas fled the mine dump into the adjacent swamp, after which security services lit the swamp reeds on fire, severely burning many Zama Zamas. Victims of the raid remain in hospitals, with police denying claims they lit the fire. An investigation conducted by GroundUp journalists late last month found that the police have impeded victims and their families from laying complaints against officers responsible for the raid.This most recent operation saw the police utilize hunger and dehydration to force the Zama Zama's from their mines.What You Need to KnowEarlier this week, as stated on the official website of the SAPS, "The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, has commended the Vala Umgodi task teams in the North West province for stamping the authority of the state. This is as [at the time] 225 illegal miners resurfaced from underground in Orkney as a result of starvation and dehydration."Upon surfacing, the miners were arrested and consisted of South African, Mozambican, and Basotho (from Lesotho) nationals.According to the SAPS, "Since Operation Vala Umgodi's inception in December 2023, more than 13,691 suspects have been arrested in the seven provinces that are illegal mining hot spots. Police have also seized R5 million (USD 284,576) in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million (USD 1.8 million) through operation Vala Umgodi."So, What Now?The use of increasingly unconventional tactics by Vala uMgodi task force's should be cause for concern, as should the flow on effects of such arrests. Many of the locals bringing food, water, and basic necessities are likely to be spouses or family members of the miners, bringing the items to those who are likely to be the main breadwinners.The arrest of these miners, although in accordance with the law, is likely to exacerbate poverty in regions where illegal mining is heavily prevalent, most likely pushing individuals into crime.The lack of an evenhanded approach by the SAPS to crime in the country is likely to further exacerbate local tensions, with many governmental failings presented as the fault of undocumented immigrants in the country. In recent months, the SAPS have conducted major raids against Zama Zama's and foreign nationals, with what appears to be little foresight into the aftereffects of these raids.