--- title: "Mpumalanga police seize mining equipment worth R60m during crackdown on illegal coal mine" description: "SAPS’s illicit mining task force seized R60 million worth of equipment at an illegal coal mine in Carolina, Mpumalanga, intensifying the crackdown on illicit mining hotspots across South Africa." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "ILLEGAL MINING BUST" author: "Ethan van Diemen" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/ethan-van-diemen/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-22-mpumalanga-police-seize-mining-equipment-worth-r60m-during-crackdown-on-illegal-coal-mine/" published: "2023-09-22T15:13:43" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 503 --- # Mpumalanga police seize mining equipment worth R60m during crackdown on illegal coal mine > SAPS’s illicit mining task force seized R60 million worth of equipment at an illegal coal mine in Carolina, Mpumalanga, intensifying the crackdown on illicit mining hotspots across South Africa. By Ethan van Diemen · Published 22 September 2023, 17:13 SAST ## Key points - South Africa's crackdown on illegal mining hotspots intensified on Tuesday with the seizure of R60-million worth of equipment and the arrest of a 53-year-old mine manager, as a manhunt for the owner of the mine continues. - SAPS anti-illegal mining task force seized R60-million worth of equipment at an illegal coal mine in Carolina, Mpumalanga. - A 53-year-old mine manager arrested, owner of the mine still on the run. - 748 coal yards visited to ensure compliance and 63 unregulated coal yards shut down. - 335 illegal miners arrested since 8 May 2021. ## Content On Tuesday, the South African Police Services’s (SAPS) anti-illegal mining task force seized R60-million worth of equipment at an illegal coal mine in Carolina, Mpumalanga, intensifying a crackdown on illicit mining hotspots across South Africa. In addition to R12-million worth of illegal coal, police seized a cache of heavy machinery, including excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks, as part of an intelligence-led operation, and a a 53-year-old mine manager who could not produce a mining permit was arrested. The owner of the mine, however, has not been apprehended and a manhunt is currently underway. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said in a statement that “through collaboration with the relevant authorities, it was found that the mine was not licensed and is operating illegally”. ![Excavators, bull dozers and dump trucks are among those seized by police during an intelligence driven take down operation on Tuesday, 19 September 2023. (Photo: Supplied SAPS)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/VSD7MzenTpL5OFlI4AlzGkvoTOM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DARK-BLUE-3.jpg) *Excavators, bulldozers and dump trucks are among those seized by police during an intelligence driven take down operation on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.(Photo: Supplied SAPS)* **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Life and death in the shadow of Mpumalanga’s toxic coal mines](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-27-life-and-death-in-the-shadow-of-mpumalangas-toxic-coal-mines/) The statement continued that in the past 12 months, 748 coal yards across the country were “visited to ensure compliance” while a total of 63 unregulated coal yards were shut down because they were not authorised by law to operate by the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). ![R12-million worth of coal that was found to be mined illegally has also been seized. (Photo: Supplied SAPS)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/3E2KtBj5WGlUQWNX9IWrFf3ibys=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2eaf6fbf-7694-483f-8134-b4c823174e36.jpg) *R12-million worth of coal found to be mined illegally has also been seized. (Photo: Supplied SAPS)* Since 8 May of this year, 335 illegal miners have been arrested at various hotspots across the country. The acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, said in a statement “Many thanks to the SANDF, DFFE, DMRE and Water Affairs Department who also had a role to play in the success of this takedown. Since the establishment of the NatJoints energy safety and security priority committee we have intensified efforts to prevent and combat incidents of illegal mining activities, we are also working closely with all stakeholders to close and rehabilitate abandoned mine shafts to put a stop to these illegal mining activities”. In a recent meeting in Parliament with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks), members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) were briefed on [intelligence reports](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-27-introducing-the-four-crime-cartels-that-have-brought-eskom-and-south-africa-to-their-knees/) commissioned by Eskom’s former Group Chief Executive (GCEO), Andre de Ruyter. *Daily Maverick* has previously reported that among the findings at least [four criminal cartels](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-27-introducing-the-four-crime-cartels-that-have-brought-eskom-and-south-africa-to-their-knees/) are allegedly operating in Eskom as well as in the illegal coal mining industry. The impacts of this alleged activity can be seen in anecdotal evidence of substandard and illegal coal from illegal coal yards being delivered to Eskom’s power stations. This negatively impacts the machinery, leading to breakdowns of the sort that can cause or exacerbate load shedding. The Hawks, in their presentation noted, in reference to the intelligence reports, that “Although the allegations towards entities, groupings or individuals are not proved yet, the gathered intelligence needs to be corroborated, as the potential exists to investigate the matter further.” **DM** [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeWvTRUpMk)