MEMBERS of Parliament went on an oversight visit on Sunday, 18 September, of areas where illegal gold mining has been reported.
The Portfolio Committees on Mineral Resources, Energy, Police and Home Affairs visited affected areas in Roodepoort, Soweto, Florida, Robertville, Zamapilo and Langlaagte in Joburg.
The committee members were led by Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Resources chairman, Sahlulele Luzipo, who said they previously had a two-day visit to the Free State.
He said they were told by the police that between 2012 and 2022, there had been more than 10 000 arrests with successful prosecutions for illegal mining in the Free State.
He said cops told them illegal mining had created an economy in supplying commodities like firearms, food and liquor to zama zamas.
“We also heard about the depth of illicit mining in the province and the way it threatens legal mining operations,” said Luzipo.
Luzipo said the police told them that arrests of illegal immigrants were often unsuccessful due to a court judgment finding parts of the Immigration Act unconstitutional.
“The SAPS informed the committee that illegal immigrants are arrested and those who serve jail terms are released back into the community after being issued with a notice to leave the country.
“We will recommend that this act must be reviewed urgently to address the challenge of illegal immigrants in South Africa,” he said.
