Residents in the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs have been digging for gold in a cattle enclosure since last week, following rumours of gold particles. Authorities from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the City of Ekurhuleni have issued warnings against these illegal activities due to safety and environmental risks.
In the Gugulethu section of the Payneville informal settlement in Springs, Gauteng, hundreds of residents began digging up a kraal—a cattle enclosure—earlier last week. The activity started after rumours spread that locals had discovered gold particles in the area. Scores of people have been excavating day and night in hopes of finding gold.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has urged residents not to engage in such illegal mining, highlighting the serious dangers involved. Spokesperson Lerato Ntsolo stated: “The department reiterates that any mining activity conducted without any permits or mining rights as prescribed by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is unlawful and constitutes a criminal offence. Illegal mining endangers communities, threatens lives and harms the environment.”
The City of Ekurhuleni, which oversees the area, earlier issued a stern warning about the perils of illegal mining. Spokesperson Phakamile Mbengashe noted that officials are conducting a fact-finding mission to identify the kingpins behind the operation. He added: “This is a national problem, it’s just that here, we’ve never seen it at a scale in an open public like this but the message we are sending to the public or anyone who might have ideas like this is that we are not going to tolerate this and yes we did take time in terms of intervention but it was in the interest of public safety. But now we do know and with experience of the operation that is coming, we will be able to stop an operation like this.”
Both authorities emphasize that such activities pose risks to public safety and the environment, with plans for interventions to halt the digging.