The community of Bapong near Brits is currently experiencing an illegal mining crisis where chrome is being extracted from residential backyards.
Acting Minister of Police Professor Firoz Cachalia, the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, Premier of the North West province, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi are expected to visit Kgosi Andrew Nkoana Mogale and Bapo ba Mogale Traditional Council following an illegal mining crisis in Bapong village near Brits in Madibeng Local Municipality, on Monday, 22 December 2025.
Masemola has recently conducted an aerial inspection showing homes on the brink of collapse due to extensive illegal excavation.
While South Africa loses an estimated R21 billion annually in sales, taxes, and royalties due to illegal mining across all provinces, Cachalia and Mokgosi’s visit is categorised as part of government’s ongoing efforts to find a lasting solution to zama-zamas activities in Bapong and surrounding areas.
The meeting will include various stakeholders and in this regard, the Bapo Ba Mogale Traditional Council.
To date, police have arrested at least 21 illegal miners to deal with illicit mining operations in the area.
“Heavy machinery has since been seized and removed from the site as police continue to follow all possible leads in identifying the masterminds behind these operations.”
In the Stilfontein, City of Matlosana Local Municipality, hundreds of illegal gold miners were flushed out of disused shafts at the Stilfontein mine in early 2025. Reports indicate over 1,800 arrests were made in this area alone, though many miners were found in dehydrated and starving conditions.
Meanwhile, four police officers were arrested and appeared in the Stilfontein magistrate’s court in early 2025 for allegedly facilitating the escape of an illegal mining kingpin known as “Tiger” – James Neo Tshoaeli.
Tiger escaped police custody after resurfacing from a shaft, leading to allegations of police collusion and “inside jobs”.
