SIHMA | Scalabrini Institute For Human Mobility In Africa
15
OCT

Operation Vala Umgodi shows the ties between illegal migration and irregular mining, but should migrants be criminalized?

Operation Vala Umgodi exposes the connections between illegal migration and the coercion of migrants in South African mines. Launched earlier this year, it has led to the arrest of hundreds for the illegal extraction of minerals. Though initially aimed at curbing illegal mining, the operation has revealed deep ties between the extractive sector — especially the informal one — and the trafficking of migrants into South Africa. While effective in combating illegal mining, the treatment of migrants, often victims of abuse, has sparked controversy regarding the operation. Critics argue that instead of criminalizing irregular migrant workers in informal mining, the state should help them in exiting their condition of vulnerability.

 

What is Operation Vala Umgodi?

Operation Vala Umgodi has achieved many successes, especially in recent weeks. For instance, on September 29, 39 individuals were arrested near Kimberly, in the Northern Cape, and accused of violating South African immigration laws. The operation was carried out by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the immigration offices of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Authorities have hailed it as a success in combating illegal immigration and the exploitation of labor in unregistered mining operations. SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane reported small clashes between law enforcement and irregular migrants, who had allegedly sought refuge in an illegal mine outside Kimberly. The operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering. 

Similarly, on September 25, the operation led to six arrests in the Free State, unrelated to migrant trafficking but connected to other crimes such as illegal gold mining and unlawful possession of firearms. Another raid on September 23 in Limpopo resulted in the arrest of five individuals and in seizing large amounts of equipment used for extracting minerals and gemstones. These arrests reveal the intricate ties between irregular mining and illegal migration, while also confirming the involvement of powerful and well-organized criminal groups capable of obtaining specialized, high-cost equipment without public scrutiny. Additionally, the operations underscore the violent nature of illegal mining activities, highlighting their inherent dangers for safety and security of workers – mostly migrants. The confiscation of precious minerals — 42 bags in Limpopo and gold in the Free State — illustrates the lucrative nature of illegal mining, especially when exploiting low-cost, forcibly employed migrant labor working in hazardous conditions.

The May 31 operation in Limpopo most vividly illustrates the underlying dynamics of Vala Umgodi. Dozens were arrested on charges ranging from illegal mineral extraction to drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms, as well as illegal migration. Among the 32 detainees identified as foreign nationals, many were Zimbabweans, further evidenced by a previous incident where two Zimbabwean men were arrested with undeclared explosives in their car at the South African border. These developments reflect the complex relationship between illegal migration and organized crime, as demonstrated by the operation's holistic approach, involving the police, military, and DHA, targeting multi-level criminal networks with a focus on illegal mining and irregular migration.

 

Vala Umgodi and Irregular Migrants

Questions arise regarding whether irregular migrants are themselves victims of an organized, efficient, and well-funded criminal system. According to SAPS, arrested illegal migrants were consistently exploited as low-wage laborers and never held importnat roles in mining operations. Vala Umgodi specifically targets high-risk areas for migrant settlement, yet it has not succeeded in dismantling human trafficking networks at South Africa’s borders, nor have there been any arrests of human traffickers or senior figures in the illegal mining industry yet. The goal of dismantling large-scale criminal networks remains elusive, though the operations will continue and hopefully have a positive outcome. Media outlets have called some arrests, particularly around Kimberly, a "major step forward for South Africa’s border security and immigration enforcement," but these actions mainly mitigate the problem rather than actually prevent irregular migration. Migrants were arrested after entering South Africa, while no additional measures have been announced to strengthen border security.

Beyond these challenges, the narrative surrounding migration and the successes of Operation Vala Umgodi reveals a troubling simplification of the crimes involved. The operation has treated various offenses — illegal arms possession, drug trafficking, attempts to smuggle explosives, and illegal migration — as equally serious, even though the risks and legal penalties vary significantly. This conflation presents a dangerous oversimplification, equating two fundamentally different types of offenders: irregular migrants, who are often victims of abuse and coercion, and organized criminals, including human traffickers and illegal mine operators, who intentionally engage in illegal activities and exploit the migrants. Can we truly equate an irregular migrant with a human trafficker?

 

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