Illegal mining in South Africa is being described in increasingly stark terms, with a task force leader warning that the country faces far more dangerous and organised groups than many people realise. In an interview cited by BusinessTech, De Wet du Toit of the Blyde River Task Force said zama zamas are no longer just desperate individuals trying to survive, but heavily armed syndicates operating in critical regions.

Du Toit said these “mafia-style” groups are damaging environmentally and economically important areas, including parts of Mpumalanga and areas near the Kruger National Park. He alleged that the networks are enforced through violence and that some members carry small arms and even rocket-propelled grenades. These claims were presented as Du Toit’s assessment in the interview.

Violence and fear at the centre of the warning

According to Du Toit, the brutality linked to these syndicates is extreme and often underestimated. He told BizNews, as reported by BusinessTech, that the violence includes killings and burials on a mass scale. He also claimed that many of those involved are undocumented foreign nationals from countries including Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Those remarks are likely to fuel debate, especially because illegal mining is already a flashpoint issue in communities affected by crime, land damage and strained policing. What the report makes clear is that Du Toit sees the threat as organised, armed and deeply entrenched rather than scattered or isolated.

Water systems and land under pressure

Du Toit also warned of major environmental damage. He said illegal mining operations use toxic substances such as cyanide and mercury without regulation, and claimed that these chemicals are making their way into water systems. He described the risk as stretching from water sources all the way to the ocean.

That claim matters in a country already grappling with water insecurity, pollution and ecological strain. If accurate, it means the impact of illegal mining extends well beyond the dig sites themselves and into entire ecosystems and nearby communities. This is Du Toit’s assessment as quoted in the source article.

State response accused of falling short

Du Toit said the state’s response has been inadequate and that the crisis has worsened over the past three to five years despite repeated warnings and media coverage. He claimed some processing sites have operated openly near police stations and described police interventions as largely “window dressing exercises”.

He also pointed to the economic cost, arguing that illegal miners do not pay tax and displace potential local jobs. For residents in affected areas, he said the fallout has been severe, with some people fleeing, others drawn into the illicit economy and some losing their lives. Du Toit added that one of his colleagues had been shot three times.

Long road ahead

While the Blyde River Task Force is gathering scientific evidence and building legal cases, Du Toit said fixing the crisis will take years. His warning is blunt: South Africa cannot afford to ignore the threat, especially where water and public safety are at stake.