We have convened here today in Bapong following allegations of heavily armed zama zama’s that are guarding illegal mining activity sites.

I am here in my capacity as both the Chairperson of the NATJOINTS and the Deputy National Commissioner of Policing.

I am joined by the Acting Deputy National Commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant General Senthumule.

From National we also have the head of the Special Task Force Unit - which is our paramilitary unit in the SAPS - they respond to high risk incidents only, we have the head of the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and members that have previously led operation Vala Umgodi operations in the North West.

We came here today to meet with the province led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Naidoo and his management team including the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Asaneng and the head of the HAWKS in the province, Major General Khoza.

We have received a briefing on ongoing joint law enforcement disruptive operations by the police to prevent and combat illegal mining and related activities. We have dedicated crime combatting operations that have been deployed from the province to assist the district - they are operating under the command of the district commissioner. Plans are afoot to ensure we augment and add to the existing capacity based on what we have uncovered thus far. We have also been briefed on the ongoing operations through OPERATION SHANELA.

In the last 24 hours, we have arrested three illegal miners and seized 10 excavators and other illegal mining machinery.

We are also aware that the then Acting Provincial Commissioner Major Gen Asaneng has had previous engagements with the Bapo Ba Mogale tribal council as well as the administrator where the legal requirements relating to mining were discussed. Emanating from a series of these meetings and engagements it was resolved that government through the relevant departments will continue to engage the tribal council on challenges their facing relating to illegal mining activities.

On 30 October 2025, the tribal council led by Kgosi Henry Mogale appraised the leadership of the SAPS that they would lead from the front by preventing ongoing illegal mining activities… the Kgosi did indicate during that meeting that the Tribal council would be appointing a private security company to assist with ensuring that they put a stop to the illegal mining activities.

It is on this note that we wish to clarify that the social media posts that are circulating on various platforms are misleading purporting that there are heavily armed zama zamas busy with illegal mining activities in Bapong.  I repeat, those posts are misleading and FALSE. Those private security officials that you see on those pictures are actually valid security officials with valid psira accreditation. They have been appointed by Bapo Ba Mogale to assist in stopping the illegal mining activities that have already led to loss of lives.

Kgosi Mogale, before our visit to the tribal council, we embarked on a fact finding mission and it is quiet disturbing that where these illegal mining activities are taking place, homes are caving in, there are no longer roads and they are even digging next to the graveyards…This is really posing a safety and security threat to our communities livelihoods.

We have engaged those communities, and they have expressed their concerns in that their lives are at risk.

Issues of illegal mining activities are quite complex and dangerous in nature because these are often undocumented, and heavily armed criminals,  but we have managed to put a stop to these ongoing activities across the country.

To date, since inception, Operation Vala Umgodi has led to more than 30 000 arrests with more than 4000 illegal and unlicensed firearms including high calibre firearms seized thus far.  We have also seized thousands of explosives and other illegal mining equipment…

Our operations continue in various parts of the country. This latest discovery , does indicate that we ought to intensify our operations.

We are engaging the departments of minerals resources and other relevant departments such as the department of forestry, fishery and environmental affairs to assist us in this regard as well as the department of employment and labour…

Going forward, we are establishing a joint operational centre (also known as a JOC) to put a stop to these illegal mining activities in this community, the joint centre will consist of officials from SAPS, other law enforcement agencies, other government departments including members of the tribal council.

We remain committed in addressing all acts of criminality associated with illegal mining and ensuring that government and all affected communities work together…

I thank you