The presidency deploys SANDF to fight zama-zamas (illegal mining)

It is alleged the president of South Africa has deployed soldiers to be part of the on-going fight against illegal mining in South Africa. This comes after numerous reports of violence imposed on South African Citizens by the illegal miners and the fact that its an illegal sector that causes a huge dent on the economy of South Africa. It has also been alleged that this illegal mining sector has been run by foreigners, of which they make up more than half of all illegal mining activities that take place in South Africa. The police have been trying to tackle illegal mining for quite some time and have failed dismally in shutting it down hence the deployment of the SANDF. With the police's failure the government has resorted to deploying the military in the aim to eradicate illegal mining, the operation is estimated to cost close to half a billion. 
 
By the Chamber's estimation, illegal mining activities on operating mines conservatively cost the economy more than R7 billion every year, including through non-payment of taxes and royalties. But, this is likely to be an under-estimate as illegitimate activities cannot be accurately quantified. Which makes a very huge impact on the mining industry which contributes to the country's GDP.


In 2022, the mining industry direct contribution to GDP grew by 4% to R494 billion (2021: R475 billion). The percentage contribution of mining to the economy was 7.53% (2021: 7.56%). Employed 475,561 people (2021: 458,954). Paid employees R175 billion (2021: R166 billion).


With all that being said, the question then becomes couldn't the SAPS take care of the illegal mining syndicate on its own instead of millions of rands being spent on deploying the SANDF? The second question then becomes with an already struggling economy and citizen's living hand to mouth couldn't the government use the money for something else that will at least try and alleviate poverty? We are not saying illegal mining does not affect the economy or the citizens of South Africa, but shouldn't the SAPS be well equipped to can take care of the syndicate on their own?

It is estimated that illegal mining in 2019 cost the economy about R 49 billion rands and caused mining companies about 2 billion rands annually on extra security. It is a problem that affects the country as a whole and that should have been dealt with a long time ago, the fact that the sector operates without proper machinery, licenses, paying taxes, royalties and costing mining companies billions of rands to keep afloat and contributes immensely to retrenchments we can only hope that "the half a billion rand expenditure" does eradicate illegal mining.

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