Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out a successful cordon-and-search operation in Honey Park, Bronville, on 25 April 2026. The raid forms part of Operation PROSPER: Illicit Mining and Anti-Criminality and directly addresses illegal mining in Welkom.

Officials arrested one Zimbabwean national for being in South Africa illegally. They also found him in possession of gold-bearing material believed to come from illegal mining activities. Authorities handed the suspect and all seized items over to SAPS for further investigation.

Breakthrough in Welkom illegal mining operation

Alpha Company from the 1 Special Service Battalion led the targeted action at a house in the area. The team worked closely with SAPS members under the national Operation PROSPER framework.

During the search, officers seized the following items:
• Two gas cylinders (9 kg and 48 kg)
• Two cutting torches
• 48 bottles of BronCleer codeine cough syrup (100 ml each)

The operation shows steady progress in the fight against illegal mining in Welkom and related criminal activities in the Free State Province.

Operation PROSPER provides national support

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of more than 2 200 SANDF members in March 2026 to assist SAPS in provinces including the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. The mission focuses on illegal mining and associated crime.

In the Free State, soldiers from the 1 Special Service Battalion support police efforts to stabilise mining-affected communities and disrupt illicit networks. This latest action in Welkom fits into the broader Operation PROSPER campaign that began earlier in 2026.

Investigation continues

SAPS has taken custody of the suspect and the seized items. No further details on charges or the progress of the investigation were available at the time of publication. The SANDF and SAPS have not released additional statements on this specific raid.