Calls for police's political killings task team to tackle illegal mining syndicates
Lobby group, Forum for South Africa, claims these syndicates are headed by high-profile individuals, including politicians and business leaders.
Some of the 500 Zama zamas during their first appearance in the Barberton Magistrates court, Mpumalanga, 6 August 2025. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - There are calls for the police's political killings task team to be deployed to tackle illegal mining syndicates operating across the country.
Lobby group, Forum for South Africa, claims these syndicates are headed by high-profile individuals, including politicians and business leaders.
Spokesperson, Tebogo Mashilompane, said that illegal mining needed special attention.
"These criminal networks are not sustained by miners alone, but by those in positions of power who shield and profit from them. We further call for the immediate resignation of Minister Gwede Mantashe, whose leadership has failed to protect South Africa’s mining sector from exploitation and corruption."
The task team made headlines in July after reports that it had uncovered a drug syndicate allegedly linked to politicians.