The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is calling for immediate state intervention to address the issue of illegal mining in Limpopo and the North West. According to ANCYL secretary-general Tsakani Shiviti, the state needs to work with traditional authorities and communities to dismantle illegal mining operations and hold those responsible accountable. The youth league emphasizes that ancestral land under traditional leadership in these areas is being targeted by armed illegal mining operations.
The ANCYL highlights that South Africa loses over R60 billion annually to illegal mining syndicates, while communities face violence, intimidation, and damage to land and livelihoods. The youth league is advocating for the state to support traditional authorities, restore land damaged by illegal chrome mining, and ensure that armed syndicates and their corporate backers pay reparations to affected families. This, they believe, will help mitigate the negative impacts on local communities.
The ANCYL specifically points to the Sekhukhune area, where illegal mining has become a serious threat to community safety and livelihoods. The youth league condemns the complacency of law enforcement and calls on the Police Minister to deploy dedicated security forces to the affected villages. They stress that the country's mineral resources should benefit the communities and be used to support public infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals, and roads.
The impact of illegal mining on local communities is severe, with over 600 residents from more than 400 working-class families, mostly women and children, forced from their homes in early 2026 due to armed violence and intimidation by zama zama groups. The situation in Atok, under the Bapedi traditional authority, is particularly dire, with agricultural land between Mokopane and Polokwane affected by nightly gunfire.
The ANCYL also raises concerns about Bapong village near Brits, where illegal miners have dug open pits next to homes while extracting chrome. Recent reports have highlighted open pits and safety concerns in the Bapedi Kingdom area, prompting the Bapedi Royal House to obtain a court order to stop illegal mining activities and rehabilitate affected land. The youth league believes that government institutions should work alongside community leaders to protect residents and shut down illegal extraction.
To address the issue, the ANCYL plans to bring together affected traditional leaders and community representatives for an emergency summit with the state. They call on the Ministers of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Police, and Defence to work together to address the problem. The youth league emphasizes that legislative measures, including the proposed General Mining Laws Amendment Bill, are not enough without enforcement on the ground.
The ANCYL's position is aligned with resolutions adopted at its 27th National Congress, which includes the call for South Africa's natural resources to serve its people and contribute to safer communities. The youth league's immediate priority is to end illegal mining operations while working alongside community structures and state forces. They believe that proposed penalties, including sentences of up to 30 years and fines of R100 million, need to be backed by visible state action to effectively combat illegal mining.
Key points
- The ANC Youth League calls for the deployment of dedicated security forces to combat illegal mining in Limpopo and the North West.
- Over 600 residents have been displaced due to armed violence and intimidation by zama zama groups.
- The ANCYL advocates for the state to support traditional authorities and restore land damaged by illegal mining.
