The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed the deaths of two soldiers who fell into an abandoned mine shaft while pursuing suspected illegal miners during Operation Prosper in West Johannesburg on Friday morning.
The incident occurred at about 6am at the abandoned CRD Mine, where SANDF members were conducting an anti illegal mining operation alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to the Department of Defence, soldiers deployed at the site spotted a group of suspected illegal miners, commonly known as zama zamas, emerging from underground workings. As security forces gave chase through a tunnel, two SANDF members fell into an open, abandoned vertical mine shaft.
Specialised emergency response teams, including Mine Rescue Services and disaster management officials, were immediately dispatched to the scene in an effort to rescue the trapped soldiers.
However, after several hours of rescue efforts under difficult underground conditions, the SANDF confirmed that both soldiers had died.
“The South African National Defence Force regrets to confirm the loss of life of two of its members during an anti illegal mining operation under Operation Prosper,” the Department of Defence said in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
“The recovery operation has concluded with the retrieval of the bodies of both members.”
The SANDF said the process of formally identifying the deceased and informing their families is under way. Their identities will only be released once all next of kin have been notified.
Earlier on Friday, the SANDF and SAPS had issued a joint statement saying rescue operations were under way and that every available specialised resource had been mobilised to safely extract the soldiers from the abandoned shaft.
At the time, authorities described the rescue as highly complex because of the dangerous underground conditions.
“The absolute focus and immediate priority is the safe extraction and well being of the members,” the joint statement said before the outcome of the rescue operation was known.
Operation Prosper is a joint law enforcement initiative aimed at combating illegal mining activities, particularly in abandoned and disused mines across Gauteng and other parts of the country.
Illegal mining has become a major challenge for authorities, with abandoned mines often occupied by heavily armed criminal syndicates that extract precious minerals illegally. The operations are frequently carried out in dangerous underground conditions where unstable tunnels, collapsing shafts and poor ventilation pose serious risks.
The death of the two soldiers highlights the dangers faced by security personnel deployed to tackle illegal mining operations.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Secretary for Defence Bereng Mthimkulu and Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya extended their condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased soldiers.
“The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, the Secretary for Defence, Bereng Mthimkulu and the Chief of the SANDF General Rudzani Maphwanya extend their deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen soldiers,” the department said.
Authorities have not indicated whether any suspected illegal miners were arrested during the operation or whether investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident have commenced.
Operation Prosper continues to target illegal mining hotspots across the country as government intensifies efforts to dismantle criminal syndicates operating in abandoned mines. Friday’s tragedy marks one of the deadliest incidents involving SANDF personnel deployed in the ongoing fight against illegal mining.
