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DMPR warns Gugulethu residents against illegally mining gold

17th February 2026

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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In response to media reports of citizens digging up parts of the Gugulethu section of the Payneville informal settlement in Springs, Ekurhuleni, seeking to find gold-bearing material, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has strongly condemned the illegal mining activities.

The department stressed that illegal mining undermined the rule of law and posed serious threats to public safety and the environment.

“Unregulated excavation may result in ground instability, placing nearby communities and particularly children at significant risk of injury or loss of life,” it cautioned.

“Support and assistance are available to artisanal and small-scale miners who wish to operate within the legal framework. This includes guidance on the formalisation process, assistance with applications for permits and mining rights and access to technical support and regulatory information to ensure compliance with the law,” the department stated.

Aspirant artisanal and small-scale miners are encouraged to engage directly with the DMPR to explore lawful mining opportunities and to contribute to safe, environmentally responsible and sustainable mining practices.

Any mining activity conducted without the required permits or mining rights, as prescribed by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, is unlawful and constitutes a criminal offence. There are mandatory application and approval processes that must be followed by any individual or entity intending to undertake mining activities in South Africa, it noted.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Online Managing Editor

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