At least 198 suspected illegal miners have been arrested for illegal mining-related offences at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria on Gauteng’s West Rand.
They were arrested are part of Operation Prosper involving Gauteng police, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Sibanye Mine’s protection services.
Authorities have also confiscated illegal mining equipment.
Most of the illegal miners are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho.
#sapsGP [ACTIVE SCENE: OPERATION PROSPER AT LOSBERG KLOOF MINE, WESTONARIA] #SAPS Gauteng together with SANDF and Sibanye Protection Services, conducted #OperationProsper at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria on Tuesday, 07/07.
The operation is aimed at combating #IllegalMining… pic.twitter.com/X9CbWXTeyE
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) July 7, 2026
