By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
8 March 2026- The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West alleged that the residents of Bapong, near Brits continue to grapple with ongoing illegal mining activities, despite promises made by the acting Minister of Police, Prof Firoz Cachalia and the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi to assist them. EFF said the people of Bapong have been living under siege by illegal miners, commonly known as zama-zamas, who operate with impunity in their community.
The EFF Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Promise Sonti said these criminal syndicates have not only invaded land and mining areas unlawfully, but they have also brought with them violence, intimidation, environmental destruction and constant fear. Sonti said the community has repeatedly raised concerns about shootings, turf wars, damage to infrastructure, and the erosion of law and order in the area.
“What makes this matter even more concerning is that this crisis has already received high-level attention. The Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, together with the MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, visited Bapong village and engaged with the community.
“During that visit, commitments were made and plans were said to be in place to decisively deal with illegal mining in the area. However, it now appears that those plans were left with the MEC when he left the village, because the situation on the ground remains unchanged,” she said.
Sonti further said the zama-zamas continue to operate freely. She added that the residents of Bapong continue to live in fear.
“The visible policing and promised interventions have either collapsed or were never fully implemented. The state cannot continue to conduct oversight visits for cameras and headlines while failing to deliver real, sustained action that protects communities.
“The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi also assured the community that solutions to their challenges would soon be found. Yet today, the people of Bapong are still waiting. There is no permanent deployment strategy, no visible dismantling of illegal mining networks, and no long-term safety plan that restores confidence in law enforcement,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mokgosi said: “We fully agree with the Honourable member that illegal mining in Bapong in particular, has been going on for some time. We would also agree that mining in this country is not the competence of the provincial government.
“However, because the residents belong to the North West, myself and the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, we have been to that area on more than one occasion. The acting Minister of Police and national Commissioner have also visited the area.”
Mokgosi said there is a Special Task Team established to deal with illegal mining and some big machinery and equipment have been confiscated during the raid. He said the police are also making sporadic unannounced patrols.
The Guardian 