A wanted illegal mining kingpin was shot and killed by police during an intelligence driven operation in Carletonville, Gauteng, after he allegedly pointed an AK 47 assault rifle at members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU).
The operation was carried out on Sunday by NIU members based in Pretoria as part of ongoing efforts by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to dismantle illegal mining syndicates and disrupt violent criminal activities linked to illegal mining in the area.
According to SAPS, police had been conducting an intelligence driven tracing operation to locate the suspect, who was believed to be staying at a residence in Carletonville.
When NIU members arrived at the property, they announced their presence and identified themselves as police officers.
The suspect allegedly responded by pointing an AK 47 rifle at the police.
“Members were compelled to respond with force, resulting in the suspect sustaining fatal gunshot wounds,” SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
Police recovered the AK 47 assault rifle and 125 rounds of ammunition from the scene.
The deceased was known to police as one of the dangerous illegal mining kingpins operating in the Carletonville area and was allegedly involved in the ongoing conflict between two rival illegal mining groups.
The deadly clashes between illegal mining groups have contributed to violence and instability in communities affected by illegal mining, with criminal networks often competing for control of underground mining operations.
Mathe said the operation formed part of broader efforts by the police to dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal mining and associated violence.
“The SAPS continues to intensify operations aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks, disrupting the activities of criminal syndicates and restoring law and order in communities affected by illegal mining and associated violence,” Mathe said.
Carletonville has been among the areas affected by illegal mining, with authorities continuing to target criminal syndicates operating in abandoned or disused mine workings.
The police have increasingly relied on specialised units and intelligence driven operations to identify and target individuals believed to be controlling illegal mining activities and the criminal networks surrounding them.
The seizure of the AK 47 and large quantity of ammunition is expected to form part of the investigation into the suspect’s alleged involvement in illegal mining related violence.
Police said the operation demonstrated their continued focus on confronting heavily armed criminal networks operating in communities affected by illegal mining.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting will be subject to the applicable investigative processes, while police continue with operations aimed at disrupting rival illegal mining groups and bringing those involved in violent criminal activity to justice.
The latest operation comes as law enforcement agencies face continued pressure to address illegal mining, which has become a major security and public safety concern in several parts of Gauteng.
SAPS said its operations would continue as it seeks to dismantle the networks behind illegal mining and restore law and order in affected communities.
