Johannesburg, South Africa (Running Africa) — South African security forces have arrested 217 suspects during a large-scale operation targeting illegal mining at a gold mine shaft west of Johannesburg, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the country’s mining sector.

The coordinated raid brought together members of the South African Police Service, the military and private security personnel as part of Operation Prosper, a nationwide campaign launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to combat illegal mining, organized crime and related criminal activities.

According to authorities, more than 100 of those arrested were undocumented migrants from Lesotho, while others were citizens of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Security forces also recovered firearms and ammunition during the operation, with investigations continuing into suspected links between the arrested individuals and organized criminal syndicates.

Illegal mining remains one of South Africa’s most persistent security and economic challenges. Thousands of unregistered miners, commonly known as zama zamas, operate in abandoned and disused mine shafts, often under hazardous conditions, extracting gold and other valuable minerals.

Law enforcement agencies say these operations are frequently controlled by organized crime groups involved in offences including extortion, armed violence, illegal firearms trafficking and mineral smuggling, posing significant risks to public safety and the country’s mining industry.

The latest arrests come as the South African government intensifies enforcement against undocumented migration and cross-border criminal activity while responding to growing public concerns over crime, unemployment and the substantial economic losses linked to illegal mining.

Authorities have pledged to continue nationwide operations aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks, strengthening border security and protecting South Africa’s mineral resources from organized criminal exploitation.