South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the green light for 3,300 army personnel to step in and tackle illegal mining. The move, which is part of ‘Operation Prosper’, is set to cost around 492 million rand ($26 million). The army will team up with the police to crack down on illegal mining activities across all provinces from 28 October 2023 to 28 April 2024.
This isn’t the first time the army has been called in for this kind of mission. Back in 2019, they were sent to the Western Cape province to deal with gang violence under the same operation.
Illegal mining is a big problem in South Africa, causing a lot of trouble for the mining industry. The Minerals Council South Africa says it happens at both abandoned and active mines, and it’s making South Africa less attractive for investors. In fact, it’s costing operating mines about 7 billion rand every year, and the country is losing out on billions more in export earnings, taxes, and royalties.
It’s a serious issue that needs to be dealt with, and the president is taking action to make sure the problem doesn’t get any worse. Let’s hope this operation makes a real difference and helps to clean up the mining industry in South Africa.