National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has announced the deployment of additional police officers to Bapong, near Brits, as authorities intensify efforts to curb illegal mining in the area.
Masemola made the announcement during a visit to the area on Monday, where he was accompanied by senior police management. He said some law enforcement officers would be permanently stationed in Bapong to strengthen visibility and sustain operations against illegal mining activities.
“We are deploying more police officers on the ground; including various Directorate of the police, crime prevention, crime combating detectives, DDCI we also established police integrated provincial
[National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure] NATJOINTS team that will be stationed here and deal with the problem,” he said.
The commissioner also raised concerns about the safety risks linked to illegal mining, confirming that some miners are believed to be trapped underground. He warned that any rescue operation would be dangerous due to unstable underground conditions, adding that the situation is being assessed by relevant authorities.
“The stable nature of the soil here it will take some time before anyone can go there and make sure they do safely operations.”
Masemola spent the day receiving briefings from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), alongside officials from various government departments. The briefings focused on coordinated interventions to dismantle illegal mining networks and address the broader impact of the activities on community safety, infrastructure and the environment.
Illegal mining has been a persistent challenge in parts of the North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and other provinces often linked to organised crime, environmental degradation and threats to local communities. Authorities say the latest deployment forms part of a broader, multi-departmental strategy to restore law and order in affected areas.
